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THE ANNIVERSARY WEEK AT BLOOMINGTON. 


AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION; 


ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 


Allinois Hatural Pistory Saticty, 


COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES 


OF THE 


STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY. 


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Chiefly Compiled from the Reports of the Curcagco PRESS AND TRIBUNE 
and CuicaGco TimEs, 


NATURAL + 


Linraay HISTORY SuRVEY be 
Ep Sera Noise ee aeO, JULY, 1860. § » ’ 


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TQ THE PUBLIC. 


The friends of the State Normal University, at Bloomington, 
at the close of a most important year in its history-—-the completion 
of its new building—believed the occasion one of much interest 
to the State and the general cause of public education. They 
have been in a most gratifying manner strengthened in this belief | 
by the public interest as attested by the two leading journals, 
of opposite politics, in Chicago, both of which gave, throughout 
the late anniversary week, elaborate daily reports, from special 
reporters present at Bloomington. 

In these reports of the Press and Tribune and Times, so much 
is stated and so fully, on points made the frequent subject of 
inquiry of persons from abroad, strangers to the institution, that _ 
it has been decided to compile selections from these reports, in 
the present form, as furnishing a circular to be used in answer to 
the inquiries referred to, as well as to perpetuate and extend more 
widely the interest awakened by the late anniversary week which 
marks the close of the third year in the history of the institution. 

The anniversary week referred to, opened Tuesday, June 26th, 
with the annual meeting of the Illinois Natural History Society. 
It is the aim of the Society to carry on this work within our 

_.. borders until it is completed, and to establish a Museum of Natur- 
~» al History, at the State Normal University, comprising every 
species of plants, birds, shells, fishes, insects, quadrupeds, miner- 

3 als and fossils, found in Illinois, together with such collections 
> from various parts of the world as will assist our youthin gaining ~ 
b a knowledge of the general studies of nature. 


9628 | 
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By establishing the Museum of the Natural History Society at 
the State Normal University, it becomes directly available for the 
purposes of instruction. And since the students in attendance 
are from all parts of the State, they will each have an opportunity 
of studying the Natural History, not only of his own, but all 
other sections of Illinois. The scientific survey now in vigorous 
operation may, therefore, be regarded as a direct auxiliary to the 
educational and agricultural interest of the Prairie State. 

The convention of agriculturists and friends of agricultural 
education, met on Wednesday, 27th, to discuss, in accordance 
with the call, the subject of establishing a State Agricultural 
School. The session was an interesting one, and will be produc- 
tive of good, though no immediate action was decided upon. 

To this succeeded the Examination of the Normal School, on 
Thursday, and the Commencement Exercises on Friday. These 
' in their turn, are set down in the reports appended. 


THE ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 


[From the Cuicaco Times of June 28th.] 

This is anniversary week at Bloomington. The State Normal 
School has its commencement exercises, and sends forth its grad- 
uates to do duty for the State. The examination of the several 
classes, the commencement exercises proper, and the address 
‘before the literary societies by President Hill, of Antioch Col- 
lege, are the order of the day for Thursday and Friday; while 
the Natural History Society, and the Agricultural education in- 
terest fill up the measure of Tuesday and Wednesday. The gen- 
eral interest in these various objects is calling together represen- 
tatives from all parts of our State, crowding the hotels of Bloom- 
ington, and calling into requisition the hospitality of its citizens. 

Some two years since, at a meeting of the State Teachers’ 
Association, it was suggested by Cyrus Thomas, of Southern 
Illinois, that a society be formed for the purpose of collecting in- 
formation relative to the natural history of the State of Illinois. 
This suggestion resulted in the formation of the present society, 
the objects of which are two-fold. First, to make a scientific 
survey of the State, collecting and arranging all the facts of its 
natural history, in the different departments of Entomology, Con- 
chology, Paleontology, Geology, Herpetology, Botany, Ornithol- 
ogy and Ichthyology; and also to collect and classify “ specimens” 
fully in each department; to do, in this last respect, for all the 
departments of natural history, what the Audubon Club of your 
city are accomplishing in the department of Ornithology. 

Secondly, after having acquired such information about the 
State, to make such acquired knowledge subserve educational 
purposes, by giving it back to the State again, through the chan- 
nels of her common schools. 

Thus, in both its aspects, the Society is well entitled to assume 
for itself the title of the ‘‘Zidinois Natural History Society.” 

The specimens gathered by its means, are to be arranged and 


6 


classified in the museum to be prepared for that purpose, in the 
noble edifice of the State Normal School, a building which re- 
flects honor upon our State. In a few years, the collection of 
specimens thus made, constantly enlarging, will be a source of 
just pride to the citizens of Illinois. It is proposed by means of 
this museum, properly managed with reference to such purposes, 
to awaken a love and zeal for scientific pursuits in the students 
of the Normal School, which the yearly graduates of that insti- 
tution, will in turn communicate to the scholars under their 
charge in the common schools throughout the State. Who can 
foretell the incalculable benefit such a plan, beneficently aided 
and thoroughly prosecuted, avill confer upon the State, awaken- 
ing and quickening in its future men that craving for knowledge 
and unselfish love for science, which is self-satisfying, gives 
companionship in solitude, and eliminates from the heart the 
greed for money, and the selfish ambitions for place which now 
mark the individuality of our nation. 

To accomplish the objects of the Society, needs time, money, 
and co-operation. The aid needed, will no doubt be rendered 
by our men of enlarged, liberal views, when the existence of the 
Society. and its objects become generally known. The urgent 
need of the Society at present is, a well selected, and full scientific 
library. It is proposed to locate such a library at the State Nor- 
mal School, and deliver the books to the members of the Society, 
at different points in the State, where they are needed for the 
objects of the Society, to be kept for a certain length of time. 
These books are urgently needed for the purpose of a careful 
and accurate classification of the specimens. To do without 
them, would be like a lawyer getting along without any library. 

The session of the Society this afternoon, was spent in discuss- 
ing a future plan of operations, and in listening to the informal 
reports of the committees having in charge the different depart- 
ments. None of the committees were fully represented, many 
members not yet having arrived. The various committees are 
to prepare elaborate reports, intended for publication in the pro- 
ceedings of the society, giving a full and complete statement of 
the information received in the various departments, for the ben- 
efit of the public. The reports made this afternoon were oral, 
_ and consisted of conversational statements, and any abstract of 


7 


them would but do injustice to the committees. I shall, therefore, 
only state such general features as would strike a bystander. 

The first feature attracting my attention in the statements to 
the Society, was the testimony borne by all of them, to the gen- 
eral interest taken in the furtherance of their objects, and the 
hearty co-operation of all to whom the Society had applied for 
co-operation. — 

: [From the Press AND TRIBUNE. } 

The State of Illinois is rich beyond description in the treasures 

of animate and inanimate nature. The great distance between 
-our northern and southern limits, affords a large number of spe- 
cies of plants, trees, and animals. Bounded and intersected by 
large rivers, our Geology and Zoology are easily determined. 

This is the second annual session of the Society, and although 
comparatively in its infancy, much has been already achieved, 
and sterling advantages reaped to science, and the co-operation 
secured of numbers of the lovers of natural sciences throughout 
this State. The numbers and standing of those present at this 
time, are a guarantee of an interesting and important session. 

The Society met Tuesday, June 26th, at Phenix Hall, at 3 
o’clock P. M., Prof. Turner, of Jacksonville, the President in the 
chair; J. W. Powell was chosen Secretary; Rev. Mr. Eddy of 
Bloomington, opened the session with prayer. 

The Superintendent, C. D. Wilber, in his report of the year, 
presented a brief history of the Society, and what had been ac- 
complished during the year. He reported that about one hundred 
and forty names were now comprised in the list. That a library 
of valuable, and some of them costly volumes, between two and 
three hundred in number, had been secured. 

He acknowledged, in behalf of the Society, the liberality of our 
State railroads during the year, in furnishing passes to himself 
and. assistants, without which encouragement, the Society hay- 
ing no means, the expense of traveling would have largely 
restricted and diminished the labor accomplished. 

He said it was now time to secure greater advantage to the 
Society, by establishing commissions in the several departments 
of Natural History. 

The Superintendent also said it was desirable that the Society 
fit up and fill a museum and department of natural science at the 


8 


forthcoming State Fair, at Jacksonville, where, he had been in- 
formed, the managers of the Fair have provided liberal accom- 
modations in a building 24x50 feet in size. 

Mr. Wilber said that he deemed that at this point, it was both 
proper, and for personal reasons necessary, that he should resign 
his position as Superintendent for the Society, as the work could 
be as well carried on by the Secretary as in other Societies. , 

B. D. Walsh, of Rock Island, was called on for a report on 
Entomology. He said he could only say that he had in the year 
named about five hundred species of the insects of Illinois. He 
could also donate to the Society a box containing classified spe- 
cies of the order of coleoptera or beetles. 

Rev. Mr. Eddy, of Bloomington, moved a vote of thanks to 
Mr. Walsh. Carried. 

J. W. Powell was called on for a report on Conchology. He 
said he had collected shells in various streams in Iowa, Illinois 
and Michigan, at various points. He said he had met with much 
good feeling and encouragement among the people. He deemed 
it would not be difficult to collect full suits of our shells of this 
section. They exist in great abundance, and some of them most 
beautiful in form. He referred to a lack of systematic research 
and of text-books to build up in the minds of the people their 
study and its love. 

The report on Palxontology was given by Mr. McChesney, of — 

Springfield. He had explored Illinois, and partially adjoining 
States, collecting specimens representative of the different geo- 
logic systems. Had identified several hundred of the species 
representing our system, and have named about one hundred new 
specimens. He should present to the Society, to be placed in the 
museum, duplicates in this department. 

Mr. James Shaw, of Mt. Carroll,-was called to report on Geol- 
ogy. In Carroll county, bordering on the mineral region, an 
opportunity was offered for studying the three groups—Hudson, 
Niagara, and Galena groups. An interest was awakened in the 
county, by the visit of Prof. Wilber, in the fall of 1859, and his 
lectures. Quite a number in that section have been busy collect- 
ing fossils. He referred to the richness of that region in fossils, 
in the Niagara group. In the Hudson river group, we find large 
Trilobites, or rather three casts and spines. Of all these spec- 


o , 


imens, a large amount can be collected. Of these specimens they 
should be ready to contribute largely to the museum of this So- 
ciety. We have formed.a Society there auxiliary to this. We 
hold monthly meetings, and aim to advance the science by every 
means in our power. 

Of the same commission on Geology, C. D. Wilber reported. 
He began his researches in this State, on Fox river, at Oswego. 
And this has become the treasure house of naturalists. Le was 
convinced that the basement story of this State was well stock- 
ed. In thevarious coal fields, quarries, etc., etc., he had collected 
a large number of specimens. He believed the collection, in all, 
of Insects is 15,000; in Botany, 8,000 species of plants, added 
to various other collections by the members of the Society, the 
ageregate would reach 60,000. In making collections, it had 
been done with a liberal hand by himself and others, for the ad- 
vantage of exchange for other specimens with various Societies 
at home and abroad. 

In Conchology, Mr. Walsh reported that Dr. Velie, of Rock 
Island, had an admirable collection of birds, to which he was 
continually adding. They were excellent. 

In Ichthyology, it was reported that Dr. Adams Nichols, of 
Quincy, and Dr. W. H. Githens, of Hamilton, Hancock County, 
were putting up fishes in alcohol. In reptiles, less was being 
done, but collections were being made in Southern Illinois. 

‘Rev. Mr. Eddy said, last year he chanced to be lodged in Han- 
nibal, Missouri, and found there stowed away, a full sett of the 
Natural History of New York, a valuable work, and now out of 
print, which he had purchased for fifty dollars, for the Society. 

The Chairman deemed this a fortunate matter for the Society, 
as the price of these setts has ranged from one hundred to one 
hundred and fifty dollars. 

The following Committees were chosen to present the order of 
business for the second day: 

Committee on Library.—K. R. Roe, E. C. Hewett, H. J. Eddy. 

Museum.—R. H. Holder, Ira Moore, G. Thayer. 

Printing Reports—N. Bateman, J. P. Reynolds, Wm. E. Keefer. 

Offcers—S. Wright, A. Eddy, K. H. Fell. 

Commissioners—Dr. Adams, Lewis Ellsworth, J. B. Turner. 

State Fair Museum—P. G. Gillett, W. 8S. Edgar, M. P. Ayres. 

Programme—Hamilton Spencer, C. E. Hovey, J, W. Fell. 


10 


Constitution—J. McChesney, L. H. Potter, ©. D. Wilber. 
Auxiliary Societiee—James Shaw, B. D. Walsh, Dr. Cutcheon. 
Resolutions—C. T. Chase, C. R, Overman, ©. D. Bragdon. 


The Society then adjourned till 8 o’clock P. M. 

In the evening an able and instructive address was delivered 
to the Society and a large audience of citizens, at Phenix Hall, 
by Prof. Turner, of Jacksonville, the President of the Associa- 
tion. 


¢ 


SECOND DAY’S SESSION. 


There had been numerous arrivals in the interim since the pre- 
vious session, and the Society opened its second day’s proceedings 
with larger numbers and a good outside attendance, 

The Society met at Phenix Hall, at 9 A, M., Wednesday. 
Prof. Turner, the President, in the Chair, and the reports of Com- 
mittees were taken up. 

Prof. McChesney, of Springfield, on Committee on Constitution, 
proposed several changes in the Constitution that had been agreed 
on, chiefly that of abolishing the office of General Superintend- 
ent and devolving its late duties on the Secretary, and the addi- 
tion of the office of Librarian. The changes were adopted, as 
also another fixing the annual assessment at one dollar. 

Mr. Bragdon urged that the assessment Should remain subject 
to the vote of the Society. 

Mr. Roots thought the sum should stand fixed in the Constitu- 
tion, that all might know what was expected of them in the Asso- 
ciation. 

Mr. L. Dunlap said two dollars was as small a sum as the Society 
could get along with. 

Mr. Galusha sustained the adoption of the lesser sum named, 

Mr. McChesney was in favor of fixing the sum at one dollar. 

Mr. Wilber was confident from his experience that the assess- 
ment of one dollar would best further the purposes of the Asso- 
ciation. 

The annual assessment was fixed at one dollar. 

The reports of Committees were then deferred. 


11 
Mr. Walsh, of Rock Island, was called upon for a paper on 


“INSECT LIFE.”’ 


He said: ‘* Were a foreign army to invade our shores, our law 
givers would vie with one another in large expenditure and pre- 
paration to oppose the invaders. No one would think of object- 
ing. And yet the ravages of such an army would be insignificant 
in comparison with an army of insects. Ten years ago the wheat 
crop of the United States amounted to ten million bushels; it was 
now twelve times that amount. Now the insect enemies of the 
wheat plant—-the midge, chintz bug, etc.—annually destroy, it can- 
not be questioned, one fourth of the amount, or thirty million 
bushels, which, at the low price of seventy-five cents per bushel, 
would give an annual damage of over twenty millions of dollars. 
Taking all our crops, the annual damage to them in the United 
States, from insignificant insects, must reach the sum of one hun- 
dred million dollars. | 

And this is going on and increasing, annually covering more 
and more territory. The army of the enemies of the crops has 
been moving from the seaboard to the lakes, and from the lakes 
to the Mississippi and Missouri. | 

Twenty years ago the bark louse was unknown on the apple 
trees west of the lakes; five years ago they were a novelty in 
Michigan. So, too, the Hessian fly, the midge, and other insects 
have been increasing the extent of their ravages westward. 

From the northwest, out of Minnesota, an army of grasshop- 
pee are coming down upon us, having already reached Northern 

linois. 

Now where are the officers, in number, and where the “ army 
appropriations,” in amount, to meet and fight this army of insect 
invaders? What has been done by our legislators in the matter. 

Some years ago Congress employed an entomologist, a Mr. 
Glover, to visit the South and report on some of the insects inju- 
rious to the great crops of that section. I donot know how much 
was paid him, but this is all that Congress has ever done from the 
revolution down to the present time. | 

The State Legislatures, it is true, have done more. Massachu- 
setts gave employment to Dr. Harris; the State of New Jersey 
employed its Entomologist, Prof. Jack; so also, the State of 
Michigan, temporarily. New York has been literally the Empire 
State in this direction. For years past she has paid an annual 
salary of $1,000 to the learned and indefatigable Dr. Fitch, a 
sum just about sufficient to pay his bookseller’s bills. Of this 
office, Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson once in a harangue said, the serv- 
ices he (Dr. F’.) had rendered were worth $25,000 annually to the 
State. | 

Now, taking all these sums by the general and State Govern- 


12 


ments since the Revolution, they would not, all told, exceed 
$20,000, or an average of $250 per year. And this against an 
annual destruction of crops by insects of $1,000,000 to the entire 
United States. Was ever such folly and blindness? Would our 

eople thus be content to oppose an invading army by voting 
$250 to Gen. Scott, and lesser sums to a few other officers? 

They manage these things better in Europe. In Russia and 
other continental states, Entomology in its rudiments is made a 
portion of common schooleducation. Inthe Agricultural Schools 
a regular Professor of Entomology has a place, and this branch 
is made his own, with no other ’ologies added. When one con- 
siders that the insect world numbers over 400,000 species, it 
would seem to be a sufficient theme and branch for one man. 

In France, this is made a special matter of Government atten- 
tion. For instance: no sooner do caterpillars appear in any one 
of the Cantons than orders are issued to the peasants to “ uncat- | 
erpillar” their trees, and itis done. The same Government, to 
protect the country against the ravages of locusts, pays a bounty 
of so much per bushel: for the bodies and eggs of these insects. 

This shows that Emperors and Kings do not think it beneath 
them to protect their people from these little minute enemies. 
But perhaps some skeptical persons may question if anything can 
be done. Let us take the single instance of Sweden, where once 
the royal dock-yards were being ravaged by bores—the larva of 
the Lymexylon Navale—which destroyed a large amount of the 
timber, rendering it unfit for naval purposes, causing an annual 
loss of millions of dollars. The King called on the great Linneus 
to examine into the matter and devise aremedy. He did so, and 
gave it much study. He found the fly, whose larva did such 
damage, laid its eggs in the timber, in June; and the remedy 
proposed was to immerse the timber in water; and this was found 
to be effectual. 

I agree with Dr. Fitch of New York, that there is no noxious 
insect that may not be opposed and counter-worked, and for this 
task, study and long series of experiment are needed. 

There are, according to Dr. Fitch, sixty noxious insects, the 
enemy of the apple tree alone, in New York. Now, can a few 
laborers and students in science cope with such an army?” 


The speaker would deprecate the inference that the insect 
world were useless and should be done away with. He referred 
to numerous familiar instances where insects added, indirectly, to 
the comforts and luxuries of life; as the bee, the silkworm, and 
others. He thought, indeed, that the direct benefits were less 
than the direct injuries. ‘They did much, however, to keep down 
one another. He referred, in detail, to the beneficial labors of 
the so-called cannibal species of insects, which constitute, it is 


13 


estimated, one-fourth the whole number. Much may be done in 
keeping down the noxious insects by protecting and encouraging 
the propagation of the cannibal species. 

The next paper was read by Dr. Everett, of Dixon, on the 
*“ Geology of a section of Rock River.” 

Dr. Roe, of Bloomington, followed, in a paper entitled “ Seite 
features of the Drift Formation in Illinois.” 

The remainder of the morning session was occupied in a dis- 
cussion and comparison of observations on recent tornadoes. It 
was participated in by Mr. Shaw, Prof. Turner, Prof. Adams, 
Prof. McChesney, Dr. Roe, and others. No definite theory was 
advanced, however. 

Dr. Everett thought it would be well and of advantage in 
giving a direction of inquiry and investigation, if a series of 
questions were made out, suggesting and calling attention to such 
incidents and conditions as might be a guide in systematic re- 
search by observers. 

No definite plan was arrived at previous to adjournment of the 
session, 

An interesting and able paper was presented by Dr. Adams, 
of Jacksonville, on “ A Plan for the Study of Natural History.” 

Cyrus Thomas, of Murphysboro, presented a report on Illinois 
Mammals, with a classification and description of fifty-six species. 
He also presented to the Society eight cases of insects. 

Dr. Frederick Brendel, of Peoria, presented a paper on the 
peculiar growth of the Water Lily, (Welumbdiwm Luteum,) ilus- 
trated with drawings upon the blackboard. 


[From the Oxicago Timzs.] 


B. D. Walsh, of Rock Island, delivered a very sina and 
spirited address upon the wabldat of ‘‘ Insect life, in its relation 
to the interests of agriculture.” 

Mr. Walsh, from careful data, estimated the damage done by 
insects to our crops at one hundred millions of dollars. It was 
the opinion of naturalists that this might be entirely prevented. 

It would require time, careful experiments and devotion of 
science to that purpose. This required appropriation from our 
government, which hitherto had been very niggardly. Striking 
instances were detailed where benefits had come from researches 

fostered by governments in Europe. 


14 


The matter of the lecture was highly interesting, its tone popu- 
lar, and the enthusiasm of the speaker infused life into it. It 
would do great good delivered through the country. 

Mr. Walsh is the most enthusiastic of all entomologists. A 
queer bug is a greater treasure to him than a large nugget to a 
Pike’s Peak man. It is very strange that of those who devote 
themselves to the pursuits of natural history only very few follow 
entomology; but for those who do, it has a fascination that 
nothing can quench. 

A paper was read by Dr. Oliver Everett, of Dixon, upon the 
geological formation of a section of Rock River valley, which 
was most fully illustrated by reference to a carefully prepared 
map, and to specimens of the various formations strewn over the 
large platform, which were handled by the lecturer with the 
partial care and fondness one might evince for a favorite child. 
The retiring, unobstrusive, engaging manner of Dr. Everett, 
gives the bystander a most favorable impression of sterling 
qualities. He bears the reputation among his co-laborers of an 
extremely accurate and patient observer, and is regarded as a 
most valuable acquisition to their body. 

Dr. E. R. Roe, of Bloomington, contributed a paper upon 
** Some features of the Drift-formation in McLean County,” dating 
back the geological history of this county to the early period of 
the great drift. He also reviewed the abundant and conclusive 
evidences to be found here, that at a period subsequent to the 
drift, great and mighty rivers, now unknown, had rolled their 
vast waters in a southwesterly direction through this land. 

Dr. Samuel Adams, of Illinois College, made, in a pleasant, clear 
style, an oral statement of his views upon a “Plan for the 
Elementary Study of Natural History.” He inculcated the 
synthetic teaching of the system as more clearly, definitely and 
intelligently fixing in the mind of the student its analysis. 

James Shaw, of Mt. Carroll, gave a detailed and interesting 
account of the various matters of interest connected with the 
late tornado. This has been so thoroughly made known to the 
public that we do not-report it, though many facts were given by 
him which we have never seen in any previous account. 

A general discussion ensued, more particularly directed to the 
electrical phenomena attendant upon tornadoes. Can electricity 


15 


be regarded as the cause of the tornado, or are its phenomena 
merely attendant as upon any storm, only increased by the violence 
and proximity of atornado? Can any one of the physical results, 
prostrations of buildings, etc., be caused by electrical action in 
any way, either by direct transference of the fluid, or by induc- 
tion, as in the pith balls of the school rooms? 

It was stated by Mr. Shaw that a peculiar effect seemed in the 
late tornado to have been produced upon iron. Violent effects 
were produced upon stoves, when other things were slightly 
disturbed. wii 

Prof. J. B. Turner gave a very interesting oral detail of the 
effects produced by the tornado which occurred ten miles south 
of Jacksonville, Ill., in May, 1859, which we give, as not having 
been so directly before the public. This tornado was one of 
great force and terror. It not only prostrated trees, houses and 
fences in its path, killing and wounding many persons and 
animals, but it seemed singularly and unaccountably to break and 
tear in pieces, to utterly demolish and destroy every thing it 
touched near the center of its path, Its track covered an area 
of some ten miles in length and one-half to three-quarters of a 
mile wide as the theatre of its greatest fury and power. Houses, 
men, trees, animals, and even two-horse wagons were whirled 
aloft high in the air and literally shivered to pieces. _The weaker 
parts of wagons were not only broken, but the tires were torn off, 
cut in two, and straightened out straight, or crumpled into 
strange shapes and thrown with great fury to the ground: other 
parts were shivered almost to atoms, and in one instance even the 
hub was broken square in two by the violence of the wrench in 
stripping the tire and other parts from the wheel. Rails and other 
timbers were not simply blown away, but literally made into 
kindling-wood, so as to be unfit for any other use. Persons were 
stripped of their clothes, and even the fowls in many cases had all 
their feathers stripped clean from off them. Most of the fowls 
treated in this manner were found dead, as well as the other 
animals that were in the center of the path of the tornado, but 
some of them still lived. The only persons known to the 
narrator who were in the very center of the track of the tornado 
and escaped alive were Mr. H. M. Cowell and his hired man. 
Mr. Cowell is a plain, uneducated farmer, of honest and unpre- 


16 


tending character, and a man who has no philosophical or meta- 
physical theories of any sort to repel or defend; indeed, he never 
read a book of any sort in his life, and, in the opinion of the 
narrator, is wholly unable to read or write, though a man of good 
character and good sense. This was stated by the narrator to 
show the kind of man whose account was to be taken of the ap- 
pearances inside of the tornado, 

At the time of the appearance of the tornado cloud in the 
southwest, at five o’clock, P. M., May 26, 1859, Mr. Cowell was 
plowing in the field, at some distance from his house, with an old 
steady pair of farm horses. _ He saw the frightful, balloon-shaped 
cloud approaching directly toward him very rapidly from the 
southwest, while a steady wind was then blowing directly against 
the cloud from the northeast. The advancing cloud was of a 
distinct balloon or funnel shape, and then appeared to him from 
his position peculiarly bright and luminous, not at all black or 
dark in any of its parts, except at its hase or bottom. The top 
part of the cloud particularly appeared to be in terrific agitation, 
much like the foam on the top of a large boiling cauldron. 
Greatly alarmed at the threatening and singular appearance, he 
at once attempted to drive his horses and plow to the house, 
which was about a quarter of a mile distant. In doing this his © 
course in the field lay for some distance in the same line with that 
of the approaching storm; that is, to the northeast. He had not 
proceeded far before there seemed a lull in the northeast wind and 
a dead calm. The horses suddenly took fright, and refusing to 
advance, commenced rearing and plunging in their traces. Their 
manes and tails and all their hair “stood right out straight,” as 
he expressed it, and they only jumped up and down without 
advancing. The iron on the harness, traces and plow, in his 
language, “seemed all covered with fire.’ He felt a violent 
pulling of his own hair which left “his head sore for some days,” 
and the hair itself rigid and inflexible. He tried to unhitch the 
traces but something seemed to prevent him; he felt a violent 
twitching of his hands; but finally succeeded, and mounting upon 
one horse he succeeded in making him advance, though his fright 
and his rearing and plunging and the peculiar appearance of his 
mane and tail continued till he got out of the direct line of the 
storm, which was for some minutes. He then turned from and 


17 


out of the line of the storm toward the house. Then this appear- 
ance wholly subsided, and he turned to the stable, put his horses 
in, and ran towards his house. He. had got almost to the house 
before the wind began to blow.’ Then it almost instantly hurled 
house and all away with it. But as the cloud passed over, as 
soon has he came within it, its whole appearance was changed. 
Instead of being bright it was pitch dark, so dark that he could 
see nothing at all, till he came to the center, when it was light 
again, making the impression on his mind that the dark part 
of the cloud was a mere shell, like the outside section of a tunnel. 
Mr. Cowell distinctly states that while he was for those few 
moments riding in the direct path of the storm, the light was so 
brilliant that he could not endure it with his eyes open, and for 
the most part kept them shut; while the cloud behind in the 
horizon still appeared as before, yet there was no wind, no 
thunder, and no noise whatever except the murmuring sound 
of the advancing tempest, which of itself was not audible at first. 
He thinks he thus rode in the direct path of the storm about fifty 
yards before he turned to go to the house. As he departed from 
the center of the whirl, he experienced these phenomena less and. 
less sensibly, and before he reached the stable there was nothing 
of it. 

Mr. Cowell’s hired man, Mr. Alex. Campbell, who was at work 
in another part of the field not far distant, in passing also to. the 
house, went directly across the track of the storm which Mr. 
Cowell had crossed obliquely. He was also as much frightened 
at the light and the shocks he experienced, and shut his eyes as 
much as he could and ran, and soon passed through it. 

Mr. Cowell states that others experienced similar effects who 
were near, though not in the center of the whirl. . | 

When the terrific whirl struck the house, which was a little at 
one side, as supposed, of the exact center of the storm, it swept 
everything before it, even tearing up the brick foundation of the 
chimney for a foot below the surface of the earth; stripping all 
the feathers off from some of the hens and turkeys, as perfectly 
clean as if picked for the table. Some, though badly plucked and’ 
made entirely blind, still lived. But no thunder at all was 
noticed, and no great noise whatever was heard while in the 
center of the dark cloud, though the roar to those a little distance 
without was terrific. 2 


18 


The narrator stated that one John Ray reported that the Vernon 
church, surrounded by an osage orange hedge, was taken up, with 
its brick foundation, and all together set over the hedge, which 
was not bruised by the passage of the house, and not a brick of 
the foundation was left inside the yard. The house was set 
down again, and left quite whole. 

The narrator said that Dr. Ford, of New York, reported other 
instances of tornadoes, in which persons had their clothing 
entirely stripped from their backs. 

How much, said Prof. Turner, of all these strange and almost 
incredible reports, was due to alarm, or mistake, or misapprehen- 
sion, he had no means of knowing. He only reported the substance 
of the facts as reported to him, and quite a little pamphlet might 
be filled with details, equally incredible, reported by numbers of 
persons of undoubted veracity, the above being only given as 
samples of the strange facts that are so reported. 

But in May, 1860, a whirlwind of less note passed over the 
so-called Hillsboro farm, the residence of Prof. Turner himself, 
tearing down the fences, tearing the roofs completely from the 
larger buildings, sweeping away the smaller ones, etc., etc. He 
had carefully and accurately examined this ground during all the 
time the superintendence of the needed repairs was going on. 
And he especially noticed that the old rotten glass windows in 
the brick house, on the windward side as well as on all sides, were 
left perfectly whole and sound in their places, not one being 
blown out or broken, although the sash of some five or six of 
them was so rotten that a child could have pushed them inward 
with its thumb and finger; while the doors of the house and barn, 
all stout and strong, were blown inward with such violence as 
even to tear off heavy iron hinges, and to tear out heavy pieces 
of oak timber, and the entire L of the house and roof and gables, 
were swept away from the same building, and the same exposure. 

Prof. Turner said that on no theory he had ever before admit- 
ted, could he account for this very singular fact, as well as 
the facts reported by Mr. Cowell and others. And he would | 
inquire if ever any one had heard of the windows of a house in 
tolerable repair being blown in by a tornado while the building 
was left standing, or if it was common, as in this case, to tear the 
strong parts of the house, and leaving the weak and even rotten 


19 


windows, and wood on such, unharmed? If so, what was the 
cause? He asked: Did it not appear self-evident that mere 
pressure of any sort would burst in the frail windows of a house 
far sooner than any other part of it? And yet the reverse had 
certainly occurred in the instance narrated by him and coming 
within his own experience. 

The discussion was renewed with new vigor upon the close of 
Prof. Turner’s clear statements, and many questions asked with 
regard to facts observed at tornadoes, which were not answered. 
This led Dr. Everett, of Rock Island, to suggest that the Society 
prepare a series of questions, calculated to bring out all the 
facts connected with the phenomena of tornadoes. So far as 
I could glean from the discussion, the following are the prin- 
cipal circumstances toward which attention should be directed, 
viz: the appearance of the clouds in the heavens, remote and 
near, and the direction in which they are moving, before, during 
and after the passage of the tornado; the direction and force of 
the current of the winds, in the distance, and near the surface, 
and such shiftings of the same as may occur; the dryness or 
moisture of the atmosphere and of the ground before the passage 
of the tornado, and the height of water in the wells, springs and 
rivers; the presence or absence of lightning, and its violence and 
continuousness; the rumbling noise made by the tornado; the 
course of. the tornado, whether it follow lines of drought or 
moisture, and how its course is affected in passing,streams or 
bodies of water, whether diverted from a straight line; the 
presence or absence of rain, and its continuousness and degree 
of violence; width of the course of the tornado; luminousness 
of the tornado-cloud before, during and after passage, and whether 
any difference in appearance from the outside to center of whirl; 
electrical phenomena, whether sparks of fire standing on iron, or 
any numbing sensation; whether tornado has a whirling effect, 
sending objects in different directions; or whether moving straight 
forward and having merely effect of a straight overpowering 
wind; whether tornado has a more destructive effect on iron 
materials than others, and how it relatively affects glass; whether 
tornado has a more destructive effect on strong substance offering 
resistance than on weak, in same place and exposure. I hope 
your readers will now feel posted up to know what to look for in 
the next whirlwind. 


20 


All of the lectures or reports which have been orally made to 
the Society will be written out at length, and together with the 
papers read, will be printed in the report of the annual transac- 
tions of the Society, for the benefit of the public. 

The Society each year appoints certain of its members to take 
charge of each of the departments of natural history, and pursue 
investigations in that branch, and it is understood that the first 
person named in each division is to take charge of that depart- 
ment for the ensuing year, and at the end of the year to present 
a report of the results attained. 

It might be difficult for some to understand the strong hold 
science has upon her votaries, and how a love and craving after 
knowledge may so burn within the soul that in its pursuit will be 
sacrificed all that the many hold dear—comforts, home, family, 
ambition, wealth; yet this is the record of most men of science, 
and tells the story of many who labor with and for this Society 
and esteem it a labor of love. An enjoyment, that the world 
knows not of, is their reward. Their mind, filled with other 
thoughts, has no regrets for what of reward the world might have 
bestowed upon them in another path; and if sometimes privation 
comes too near and presses too hard, their unfaltering zeal deprives 
it of all but the momentary pang. With few to sympathize 
in their pursuits, they are “never less alone than when alone.” 
The glories and beauties that nature is ever unfolding before 
them so fill the mind that it cannot turn morbidly inward or rest- 
lessly linger‘among selfish desires. 

“The earnest naturalist is pretty sure to have obtained that 
great need of all men, to get rid of self. He will not be tempted 
to sit at home dreaming over impossible scenes of pleasure, or to 
go for amusements to haunts of coarse excitement, if he have in 
every hedge-bank, and woodland, and running stream, in every 
bird among the boughs, and every cloud above his head, stores of 
interest which will enable him to forget awhile himself, and man, 
and all the cares, even all the hopes of life, and to be alone with 
the inexhaustible beauty and glory of nature, and of God who 
made her.” 


21 
THIRD DAY’S SESSION. 


The Society met at 9 A. M., Thursday, to hear Reports of 
Committees. Dr. Roe, of Bloomington, reported the following: 


REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY. 


1. That it shall contain all available works on the Natural 
Sciences, Home and Foreign Surveys, Manuals, Works of Re- 
ference in the several departments, Miscellaneous Works, not 
strictly scientific, Maps and Charts, etc. 

2. That the Commissions appointed in the several depart- 
ments, in the service of this Society, be requested to furnish a 
list of such books as are needed in this work. 

3. That this library be held exclusively for the use of the 
members, and that the Commissions and Agents of the Society 
shall be permitted to borrow the books for a short period of time. 

4. It shall be the duty of the Librarian to arrange the books of 
the Society, to make and keep a catalogue of the same, to keep 
a record of the books drawn from the library as directed by the 
Society, and report to the Society at its annual meeting. 

5. That the Society devote all moneys obtained by donations 
and memberships to this important object, except so much as are 
necessary for expenses. 

KE. R. ROE. 


The Committee on Commissions or Division of Labor for the 
ensuing year reported as follows: 


Botany—Dr. George Vasey, Ringwood; Dr. Rauch, Chicago ; 
EK. Hall, Athens; M.S. Bebb, Salem; Dr. F. Brendel, Peoria ; 
Dr. 8. B. Mead, Augusta. 

Geology and Mineralogy—C. D. Wilber, Bloomington; J. W. 
Foster, Chicago; M. L. Dunlap, Champaign; Dr. Oliver Ever- 
ett, Dixon. ee 

Paleontology—J. H. McChesney, Springfield; Dr. M. Davis, 
Oswego; J. P. Reynolds, Salem; James Shaw, Mt. Carroll. _ 

Conchology—J. W. Powell, Wheaton; Dr. Lucius Clark, 
Rockford; Dr. E.R. Roe, Bloomington; M. 8. Bebb, Salem. 

Entomology—B. D. Walsh, Rock Island; Cyrus Thomas, Mur- 
physboro; Wm. Le Baron, Geneva. 

Herpetology—Robert Kennicott, West Northfield; U. D. Eddy, 
Bloomington. , 

Ichthyology—Dr. Adams Nichols, Quincy; Dr. Wm. H. Gith- 
ens, Hamilton. . 

Mammalogy—W. P. Gearhart, of Murphysboro, and Cyrus 
Thomas, of same. 


22 


Ornithology—R. H. Holder, Bloomington; Dr. Velie, Rock 
Island. ; 

Meteorology—Dr. Samuel Willard, Bloomington; J. B. Tur- 
ner, Jacksonville ; F. L. Capen, Chicago. 


The following is the Report of the Committee on— 


AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 


Resolved, That we encourage the formation of auxiliary Natu- 
ral History Societies in the counties, schools, colleges and towns 
of this State, whose object it shall be to develop the Natural His- 
tory of their localities, and to awaken an interest in the study of 
Natural Science. ) 

Resolved, 'That for the purpose of creating and extending the 
taste for the subject of Natural History, of stimulating those in- 
terested in the collection of specimens in the various departments, 
and of further promoting a system of exchanges, the Illinois 
Natural History Society offer to auxiliary Societies the following 
premiums : 

1. For the largest and best collection of fossiis, illustrating the 
Geology of any section, an exchange of Fossils illustrating the 
Geology of the State, containing at least double the number of 
species presented by the competitors. 

2. Botany.—For the largest and best Botanical collection, illus- 
trating the Flora of any section, an exchange illustrating at 
least the genera of the State. | 


Mineralogy. ) 
Conchology. 
Entomology. At least double the number of varieties. 
Herpetology. Like Premiums to be offered. 
Ichthyology. 

. Ornithology. | 


[esolved, That the competitors for the above premiums shall 
have their collections on hand at the next meeting, and present 
them as the property of the Society, and that the Society shall 
appoint a committee or committees to make the awards above- 
mentioned, and that the premiums be prepared and sent to the 
auxiliary Society to which they may be awarded at the earliest 
opportunity, the Committee being judge in any case whether the 
collection is worthy of the premium offered. 

Ltesolved, That the officers of auxiliary Societies be Honorary 
Members of this Society, who may co-operate with the Society 
and be entitled to all the privileges of membership except the 


right of voting. 
JAMES SHAW 
B. D. WALSH, |} Committee. 
A. M. GOW, 


aS ne ee. 


23 


The Committee on Resolutions, by C. D. Bragdon, Chairman, 
reported the following— . 3 


RESOLUTIONS. 


Wuersas, The dignity and position of this organization, as 
well as the utility of its work, depends largely, perhaps primarily, 
upon the collection and record of facts, a8 well as specimens, 
illustrating the same, therefore— ; 

Resolved, That we recommend that working members, com- 
missioners, and others co-operating, keep a detailed diary of their 
observations in their respective departments, and report a con- 
densed summary of the same to the Society, to be placed on file 
and published in its reports. 

Resolved, Thatit is expedient that we hereafter refuse to hear 
or accept verbal reports from the different commissions or officers 
of this Society. 3 

1. Resolved, That the Natural History of the country is of 
sufficient importance to all interests to warrant every effort on. 
the part of educationists, everywhere, to promote its more gen- 
eral study, and the diffusion of a knowledge of it. 

2. Resolved, That as auxiliary to this work, we recommend 
the organization of Natural History Societies, and the collection 
of cabinets, in counties, towns, and public and private schools, 
to co-operate with this Society; and we hereby pledge to such 
our co-operation and assistance. 

3. Ltesolved, That we recommend, in the education of teach- 
ers, a careful attention to their qualification to teach, practically, 
the Natural Sciences in all our schools. 

4. Resolved, That we hail with gratification, and commend 
every efforton the part of authors and publishers to simplify 
Natural Science, and adapt text books to the needs and capacity 
of pupils in our common schools. 

5. Resolved, That the work of the Illinois Natural History 
Society is so far identical with the industrial interests of the State, 
as to render it not only politic, but imperative that the Execu- 
tive Committee of this Society adopt measures to secure their 
further co-operation. 

6. Reolved, That a scientific survey of the State, in all the 
departments of Natural History, for the purpose of securing a 
more general knowledge of its agricultural and mineral resources, 
is a matter of vital importance to the people of Illinois, and 
worthy legislative action in furnishing means to do it economi- 
cally and successfully. 

7. Resolved, That this Society is largely indebted to the rail- 
roads of the State, for facilities afforded its working members in 
the prosecution of their work, and for this recognizance of the 
practical utility of the work of the Society on the part of these 
corporations. 


24 


8. Resolved, That we hereby express our appreciation of the 
services, and endorsement of the action of Superintendent Wit- 
BER, and the working members, in their efforts to promote the 
interests of this Society, and the diffusion of a knowledge of 
Natural History among the people of the State. 

Dr. Vasey presented a catalogue of the Illinois Flora, with 311 
recent additions, making, in all, 1,363 species now found within 
our State limits. Of thenumber of recent additions, Dr. Brendel 
has furnished 83; M. 8. Bebb, 87; Dr. 8. B. Mead, 58; and Dr. 
Vasey, 133. 

The following are the Board of Officers of the Society for the 
ensuing year: 


OFFICERS. 
PRESIDENT. SECRETARY. 
J. B. TURNER, Jacksonville. | C. D. WILBER, Bloomington. 
VICE-PRESIDENTS. R 5; “ineaeiitie aad einen 
va B mington. 
Dr. OLIVER EVERETT, Dixon, ner Perna. 
Dr. SAMUEL ADAMS, Jacksonville, soeeeS kee 
Dr. EDMUND ANDREWS, Chicago, IRA MOORE, Bloomington. 
aay NEWTON BATEMAN, Springfield, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 
r. FREDERICK BRENDEL, Peoria, | 6, D. BRAGDON 
Hon. A. S. MILLER, Rockford, A. M. GOW ‘ 
D. H, BRUSH, Carbondale, - JAMES BOOTH 
J. F. JACQUESS, Quincy, C. T. CHASE ; 
M. S. DUNLAP, Champaign. Dr. GEO. VASEY. 


The following is the Constitution of the Illinois Natural History 
Society, as amended and adopted at the late session: 


CONSTITUTION. 


Art. I. This Society shall be called the Natural History Society of Illinois. 

Arr. II. Its field of observation and research shall comprise Geology, Mete- 
orology, Botany, Zoology, Comparative Anatomy, and Vegetable and Animal 
Physiology. 

Art. III. The officers of this Society shall consist of a President, nine Vice- 
Presidents, Treasurer, Secretary, Librarian, Curator, and Executive Committee, 
to be elected annually. 

Art. IV. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all regular meet- 
ings. In his absence one of the Vice-Presidents shall preside. 

Arr. V. The Treasurer shall receive all monies of the Society, such as fees of 
membership, donations, Xc., and disburse the same as directed, upon the written 
order of the Executive Committee. : 

Art. VI. The Secretary shall keep a récord of all proceedings of the Society ; 
shall file all papers read before the Society; shall visit different portions of this 
and other States; make collections of specimens; attend to exchanges with 


25 


various societies ; establish a system of co-operation, and labor to incite a gene- 
ral interest in the study of Natural History. 

Art. VII, All specimens shall be labeled, registered and deposited in the Mu- 
seum of the State Normal University. 

Art. VIII. Any resident of the State of Ilinoismay become amember of this 
Society on the payment of five dollars, if elected hy a majority of the members 
present at any regular meeting; provided, the names of candidates for member- 
ship shall in all eases be presented on the recommendation of two members of the 
Society. 

Art. IX. Each rogalar member shall pay an annual assessment of one e dollar, 
after the first year of bis membership. 

Art. X. The Executive Committee shall consist of five members, to be selected 
by the Society. This Committee shall take charge of, and act upon all matters 
referred to them by the Society. 

Art. XI. The Curator shall receive and take charge of all collections and 

contributions of specimens, and arrange them in such place as shall be provided 
by the Society. 

Art. XII. All regular meetings of this Society shall be held in the city of Bloom- 
ington, on the day preceding the Annual Examination at the Normal University. 

Art. XIII. This Constitution may be amended or changed by a two-thirds vote 
of the members present at any annual meeting of the Society. 


[From the Ca1caGo TimEs.] 


The lecture by Prof. J. B. Turner, President of the Illinois 
Natural History Society, delivered on Thursday evening, and of 
which I promised you a hasty sketch, was delivered before a large 
and attentive and interested audience. His subject was ‘‘ Mind, 
Force and Matter.’ The lecture was closely logical, and not 
intended for a popular lecture,—so called; but was received with 
great favor. The doctrine of the discourse was that there are 
but three forms of known being or existence: Matter, the source 
of Form ; Force, the cause of Motion ; and Power, the origin 
of Force. 

Under the single term, Force, was included all the so-called 
imponderable agents, such as light, heat, electricity, etc.; and 
under the term Power, all the voluntary agents, such as men, 
animals, etc. Each of these are governed by their own exclusive 
and peculiar laws—matter and force by the natural laws of neces- 
sary causation; and power, or mind or will, by the supernatural 
laws of free volition. 

An argument was derived from the Baconian law of causation, 
and from analogy, to show that matter, in its elements or atoms, 


26 


as well as force in its essence, are both uniform and simple, and 
not compound as commonly supposed; and that. all appearance 
of complexity or diversity, both in matter and force, are merely 
phenomenal,—just as the same elements of water are now solid 
ice; now a fog or arainbow; and now fiery and explosive steam: 
all of which changes are effected by the agency of one simple 
force, namely, the force of heat. In like manner all force derives 
its distinctive name merely from its phenomenal effects, (as force 
of heat, light, electricity, etc.,) and not at all from its essential 
essence. 

From this view, the simplicity of matter in each distinct 
department, and the true doctrine of phenomena, as well as 
necessary causation and free volition, and the true limit and 
proper aim of all knowledge and philosophy was inferred. 

The speaker concluded his lecture by an eloquent and feeling 
reference to the objects and pursuits of the Illinois Natural His- 
tory Society. 

“To inquire and examine fearlessly and critically, into these and 
all other natural phenomena, is one of the ends and aims of this 
Association. In what weakness and fear it began its being, and 
amid what toil, and poverty, and want it has thus far continued 
to struggle, there are some of you well know. And if its work- 
ing officers and members have not literally worked for nothing, 
and lived on sawdust pudding, and slept standing, they have 
come so near it as to utterly spoil the remark as a figure of speech. 

“And what have they done? Whatdone! We had better ask 
what they have not done that it is possible for men to do, strug- 
gling against such odds and such necessities ;—over fifty thou- 
sand specimens already collected; a fine museum already found- 
ed; a corps of scientific Zouaves—equal in the battle of the 
rocks, and the flowers, and the bugs, to any Napoleon combined 
against the Austrians—already organized and drilled, under a 
superintending drill master and general of forces, who has got a 
‘will’ in his name and a ‘ will’ in his soul, and a will to do, to 
dare and to suffer, in a good cause: name or no name, soul or no 
soul, pay or no pay. What coal mine or rock pit is there in the 
State with which he is not already more familiar than with his 
own bed-room? and what man of science is not already as well 
known and as dear to him as an own brother ? 


\ 


27 


“Then come our other friends and co-laborers, scarcely, if at all, 
less able, efficient and devoted, though more circumscribed in 
their effort by family and professional duty. What tree, or shrub, 
or plant, or flower, or leaf have our Brendels, and Meads, and 
Vaseys failed to notice and record? How fare the rocks and 
fossils and shells, in the hands of our Everetts, McChesneys, 
Powells, Shaws, Bebbs and their comrades? Did ever a bug, or 
a gnat, or a fly escape from Father Walsh? If so, Thomas and 
Le Barron are sure to catch them. And to friend Holder all the 
birds sing their scarlet songs and display their fairest plumage ; 
while that nightingale of natural science, the son of the old Doc- 
tor, still sings and carols sweetly to us from his cool and shady 
covert in the far North. 

“Friends, why should not this Society, with such success, and 
such talents, and such laborers in its behalf, even though home- 
less and penniless, be in good heart? Is it not the poor, ragged, 
frugal and hard-working boy that ever makes the man? Who, 
now, are the two prominent candidates for the highest office in 
the gift of the civilized world? The one is the poor orphan and 
the other the poor rail-splitter. So may it be with our Associa- 
tion. Nurtured in poverty and want of all things, it shall yet 
rise through usefulness to glory, for such is the order of nature 
and of God. To this end all power and all force tends; and to 
this law all nature and matter must submit. 

“* Go on, then, my friends, with the thanks for the past and good 
hope for the future. Who, among us, in that past hour of our 
weakness, the natal hour of our Association, thought then that as 
much would be actually achieved in ten years as has already been 
done in two? and that, too, though the times have been seemingly 
all against us. 

“Tt is true that we owe obligations to many friends, both as 
individuals and as associations ; to the hospitable citizens of the 
place ; to the guardians of the Normal School here; to our great 
State associations, agricultural and horticultural, now represented 
here ; to the editors of the State, and to many others who cannot 
be mentioned, for they have all given us a hearty God speed, and 
a helping hand whenever they could. We also owe our especial 
thanks to the gentlemanly conductors and guardians of our vari- 
ous railroads, whose generosity and patriotism ever leads them 


28 


to favor a good cause, quite up to, and sometimes even beyond, 
the extent of their real ability. Nor should we forget that noble 
corps of teachers, the Illinois State Teachers’ Association, at one 
of whose annual meetings the first idea of this Society was sug- 
gested, and so many of whom have co-operated and sympathized 
with it in all its labors and trials. 

‘‘But the speaker owes to you, on the other hand, an apology as 
well as thanks, in leaving again the office with which you have 
seen fit to favor him for the past two years, in your hands. I 
frankly told you in the outset, that I could personally do but little 
for you; and unexpected events have rendered even that little 
far less than I intended; so very little, in comparison to what 
others have done, that I could not let this occasion pass without 
distinctly adverting to it; but that little has been done cheerfully 
—most cheerfully—and I only now crave your pardon that it has 
not been more. . 

“Go on, then, my friends, with good heart and good hope. Use 
power! grasp force! control matter! And>+thus, as thus mortal 
beings only may, serve man and glorify God.” 


THE CONVENTION ON AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 


[From the Cu1cago Times. ] 


Pursuant to a call issued jointly by the Executive Committees 
of the State Agricultural, and Horticultural Societies, a large 
number of Agriculturists, from all sections of the State, assem- 
bled in Bloomington on Wednesday. . 

The Convention was organized at 2 P. M., at Phenix Hall, 
James N. Brown, of Sangamon, being chosen President. 

Messrs. 8. B. Chandler, of St. Clair Co., Van Epps, of Lee Co. 
and Vansdell, of Union Co., were chosen Vice-Presidents, and 
John P. Reynolds, Samtel Edwards and O. P. Galusha, Secre- 
taries. | 


Capt. James N. Brown, as President, on taking his seat ad- 
dressed the convention as follows: 


GENTLEMEN—I scarcely know how to return my sincere thanks 
to this intelligent audience of my fellow-citizens, for the dis- 
tinguished honor conferred upon me, by selecting so humble an 
individual as myself, to preside over a Convention assembled 
to consider a subject of so vast and vital importance to the 
citizens of Illinois. The subject of education should be first in 
the heart of every American citizen, for upon the intelligence of 
the public mind is based our freedom. We have met for the 
purpose of interchanging views and sentiments in regard to the 
feasible steps to be taken to advance the industrial educational 
interest of our State; and I trust, that to-day, a ball will be put 
in motion that will not rest till the object of the Convention 
is nobly achieved. I hope to see inaugurated here, a system by 
which the practical benefits of thorough agricultural education 
may be secured for the home of every farmer in Illinois. We 
have a nucleus for such an object in the noble institution which 
the wisdom of our legislature has here founded; and I hope, and 
do not despair, to live to see the day when the State Normal 


30 


University shall send her teachers to every common school in 
our State, to benefit our children with that education which brings 
an honest pride to the heart of the parent. I can say to the 
Convention that their object has my best and warmest wishes, 
and shall have all of my humble influence in forwarding that 
which is fraught with so much interest to our children’s children. 


[From the Press AND TRIBUNE.] 


The names of members of the Convention having been enrolled, 
C. B. Denio, of the committee signing the call, said no different 
plan or programme had been prepared to present to the Conven- 
tion, but it was to be left for a free discussion and interchange 
of views on the subject. C. T. Chase, of Chicago, who had been 
appointed to visit and examine plans and operations of agricul- 
tural schools elsewhere, gave some account of the schools he had 
either visited or concerning which he had obtained information. 


REPORT. 


I first visited Cincinnati, with a view of visiting the Farmers’ 
College in that vicinity, but on learning from several intelligent 
gentlemen of the city that it was strictly a literary institution, 
and made but little pretensions even to teaching those branches 
which have a decided bearing on agriculture, I did not visit it, 
but proceeded to eee: and had a very satisfactory inter- 
view with Prof. Jos. Henry and Prof. Baird, Secretary and Assist- 
ant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. These gentlemen 
manifested much Telesost in the movement in this State, furnished 
me with what information they were in possession of, and ten- 
dered the co-operation of the Institution. 

The State of Maryland has an Agricultural College at Bladens- 
burgh, seven miles out of Washington. This institution went 
into operation nine months ago, under : 1e dir 
Trustees. _ They have a pro of M: ae 1atics, of Chemistry, 

age ge eae who 


hours eaoh week. Phare are a 


from twelve years of age a ls. The oes isin Bestablished 
by act of the Maryland Legislature, Mar ‘ch sth, 1856. $25,000 
was raised by private subscription, and the State made a perma- 


nent appropriation of $6,000 annually for e endowment of the 
Institution. A farm of 428 acres of land was purchased, and a 
building erected of 120 feet by 54 feet, five stories high, at an 
expense of about $25,000. The accommodations are considered 
sufficient for about 120 boarders. There are a farm-house and 


d1 


out-buildings on the place, occupied by the Register of the Board 
of Trustees, who is the business manager. An annual endow- 
ment of $2,500 per year for three years has also been made by a 
wealthy gentleman. The Institution is laboring under some pecu- » 
niary embarrassment—difficulties of a serious and unfortunate 
nature have arisen between the Trustees and the Faculty, respect- 
ing the detail of its management, which have somewhat impaired 
its efficiency. The pupils are all required to work several hours 
aday. It was evident that the work which they did was not 
generally agreeable to the pupils, and that it cost all it came to. 
The course of study is not yet well defined, but it will be seen 
from the ages of some of the pupils admitted that it must neces- 
sarily be preparatory for such as are quite young. Efforts ap- 
peared to be used to make it as agricultural as the circumstances 
would admit of.» Time will be required for its development. 

In the vicinity of the large cities of the East, there are a num- 
ber of Farm or Reform Schools, designed for the rescue or refor- 
mation of children whose exposure to vice or destitution have 
rendered them the especial subjects of public regard. The prac- 
tical workings of these schools are exceedingly interesting and 
their results beneficial, but they do not come within the range of 
our present investigations. Several benevolent institutions, en- 
dowed by private munificence, are also in progress, but are, as 
yet, only in the formative state. 

The Eastern colleges of the highest stan¢ 
years past, established an elective or s¢i 
Natural History is given prominence, 
related to agricultural pursuits are 

I may here remark, that at t 
course is regarded as subordinate or 
The professorships are not generally 
though equal devotion may | 
ed, it is not easy to comman 
and practical experien 
equal chance to dis] 
that time honored ] 


ng have, within afew 
ic course, in which 
ral other branches 


ns the scientific 

the classical course. 
well endowed, and al- 
ye obtained, in the professors employ- 
d as high grade of talent, cultivation 
JOsitions, nor can they have an 
. Neither isit to be expected 
ce yield to youthful science 


et, th science have encouraged 
the establishm } SC) eparate from colleges, on 

arly t ; @ Lawrence Scientific School, of 
ic College, of Philadelphia, are 
are institutions of high grade. The 
graft upon its programme an Agricul- 


tural Department. i 


a 


32 


MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, 


In the Constitution of the State of Michigan, adopted August 
15, 1850, we find the following clause: “Sec, 11. The Legisla- 
ture shall encourage the promotion of intellectual, scientific and 
agricultural improvement; and shall, as soon as practicable, pro- 
vide for the establishment of an Agricultural School.” 

Twenty-two sections of swamp lands were appropriated for the: 
purpose. By an act of the Legislature, February, 1855, provision. 
was made for the sale of the lands and the establishment of an 
Agricultural College, the expenses not to exceed $56,300. In 
1857, $40,000 additional was appropriated for carrying on the 
College two years, and last year a further appropriation of about 
$40,000 more was given. The act of organization provided that 
the College should be located within ten miles of Lansing. 

A tarm of 676} acres of land was purchased, about 3} miles 
from Lansing. ‘This tract was covered with a dense forest of 
heavy, first growth timber—a few acres only being cleared. Lan- 
sing is situated fifty miles from. the Michigan Central Railroad. 

Two buildings, 100 by 50 feet, 3 stories high, were erected, 
one for a college and the other for a boarding-house. The Pro- 
fessors lived at Lansing, 34 miles distant. The accommodations 
were sufficient for 50 pupils, yet the applicants for admission at 
the opening of the third term were 200. The students were 
required to labor eachday. ‘They were allowed a dime an hour 
for their services. report, April, 1855, the President says, 
“we now have ey xpect that the students will perform, 
during the sam 2, nearly as much agricultural labor 
as the average laborers throughout the country; 
though perhaps _ rtaining a very sanguine expecta- 
tion.” Fair residences for the Professors, and various out-build- 
ings have been er ted, and stock i imported : and purchased. 

A four years’ terary course struction was adopted. 
Among the higher studies pt tention was devoted 
to surveying, leveling, etc., ‘icultural and ana- 
lytical chemistry. Althoug ons were sufficient 
for less than 60 pupils, 120 ‘ 

The summer of 1858 ¥ ditious for this 
institution. The farm was y had under- 


taken to raise a considerab the weather 
was unpropitious, early and | | 
During the summer, 10¢ - land were 
cleared and logged, rough quick- 
sands, in all which lak ' . They also 
had charge of the stock, puildings n the tables. 
In addition to this, it was attempted to € | a grand Univer- 


sity, in which the entire general range of knowledge was 


to be taught. 


38 


It is scarcely necessary to remark that under all this, the Michi- 
gan Agricultural College was in deep water, and had not touched 
bottom. 

A thorough organization has since taken place—only one of 
the original Professors being retained, and strong hopes of ulti-- 
mate success are now entertained. 

A large number of the students and the President were com- 
pelled to leave the Institution in consequence of sickness, and 
many who remained were invalids. At one time, but about thirty 
were in the field. The discouragement was almost equally severe 
for several weeks, and extended with more or less severity over 
a period of three months. 


IOWA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 


A bill passed the legislature of the State of Iowa, in 1858, 
authorizing the establishment of an Agricultural College. A 
large prairie farm has been purchased and a Board of Trustees 
appointed. They have chosen from their number a Secretary, 
who devotes his time to the interests of agriculture in the State, 
attends the fairs in his own State and in other States, procures 
valuable seeds, recommends implements, stock, etc., for intro- 
duction. ‘The buildings are not yet erected. It is believed that 
the State will not change its policy in this regard, but on the 
return of prosperity the plan will be put into execution. 

In the State of New York, an College is ready 
to go into operation next fall. It nm an extensive 
scale, and its friends are, very san SS. 

In Pennsylvania, a Farmers’ Hi en in operation 
over a year andahalf. It is loca rg. A portion 
of each day is devoted to manual | the students are 
said to enjoy. It is as yet not as ighly scientific and 
agricultural as is intende aucurs well uccess. 7 

In other States, thegiz 9s have been taken for a simi- 
lar object, to which eference somewhat in detail. 

It yet remains se of agricultural lectures 
at Yale Golege j ary last. Its object was 
I need not detain you 
with a histor us all. But very few per- 
sons outside nd yet it paid. The effect 
was most he ountry. Bringing together 
so many mer re ferent sections of the 
Union, and } Sults of observation, 
experience a } 
social way, W 
We feel, her 
onward in he 
cessful in it, why 

3 


he effects stimulating, us 
er things; and here let me ask, if suc- 
T not such a course be successful in Illinois? 


34 


Mr. McChesney, known to be deeply interested in agricultural 
education, and to have devoted himself for years to that depart- 
ment of science intimately related to agriculture and the arts, was 
called upon, by motion, for information, who stated briefly but 
with great clearness, the importance and magnitude of the enter- 
prise under discussion, the place it should occupy in the hearts of 
the people, the necessity of wise and judicious measures for the 
accomplishment of ends in view, and his belief in the certain 
success of the project, if thus wisely managed. 

He then stated that an enterprise was about inaugurated in the 
city of Chicago, for an Agricultural College, in connection with 
the University of Chicago, which he wished to mention, that the 
Convention might know what had already been done; and to 
prevent misapprehension as to his own motives, he would also 
state that he had the offer of a position in that University, which 
he would probably accept, and that while the Professorship ten- 
dered him was in another department of the institution, he would 
be expected to take some humble part in the management of the 
Agricultural Department. The institution has a commodious 
building completed, six professorships already filled, a liberal 
endowment, and art an experimental farm at a con- 
venient distance Lands have been offered by the 
liberality of ci hree directions from the city, and 
will be accepte f the points on the line of some 
railroad. 

Good soils, of sever 
200 acres, at any one of the pe 
- farm will be put under the ng 
tutors of the country. Pro 
tural college of the very 
next fall. 

He made these statemeé 
control the actions of the C 
willingness to co-openg 
other institution of ind that ; 

Prof. Turner, of onville, B. maroa, J. W. 
Morris, of Bloomington, and 
continued the discussion, which const sidue of the 
afternoon session. 


an be secured on a farm of 
ader consideration. The 

he best agricultural 
iate to an agricul- 
students received 


> have them 


35 


The Convention, in a subsequent closing session, continued its 
discussion, and adjourned after adopting a series of resolutions, 
recommending the subject to the people of the State. 


[From the Curcaco Timgs,] 


The session of this Convention has given me sincere pleasure. 
One who remains in Chicago all the while, knows but little about 
the resources of the State, and the kind of men there are in it. 
The Convention was composed of a noble looking body of 
farmers; and I was astonished to meet so much intelligence and 
far-sightedness, and such deep interest in the true welfare and 
interests of the State. I find that to know anything about the 
people of Illinois, one must know its farmers. It is marked by 
nature, as one remarked in the Convention, upon the face of 
Illinois, that the. agricultural interest is, and must always remain, 
its great first interest. I was surprised to find so strong an under- 
current of deep and hearty interest felt by the farmers in the 
advancement of agricultural education. Such a feeling and in- 
terest is one that cannot be forced upon or talked into the people 
of a community, but to possess permanency or value must spring 
naturally from themselves. It has been notoriously difficult, 
almost impossible, to conquer the e already existing 
among the mass of farmers against: all “ book-farm - 
ing,” and to make them feel that an” education would 
profit them as farmers. And, therefor Sonvention is won- 
derful when regarded as a meeting ¢ f farmers, from all over the 
State, to consult as to the best way of organizing a system of 
scientific agricultural edit » The most earnest interest ani- 
mates them, as is: } response of so great a num- 
ber to the call for It was stated that once be- 
fore had the id cation been agitated, and 
though not pj o strongly did the idea fix 
itself in the re were instances where men 
had made pi ar the advancement of such 
an object. — ( 1 in testifying to the 
interest felt 1 farmers. One stated that Lee 
county woul purposes of such undertaking, 
their college buildmgymot now used, erected at a cost of $25,000, 
and $25,000 in money. And a letter was read to the Convention, 


36 


written by some gentleman in Urbana, who had not been able 
to be present, that that section would contribute for the purpose 
a building erected at a cost of $100,000. 

But while there was manifest this desire and craving for the 
diffusion of agricultural knowledge and education, yet the notions 
of the individual members of the Convention seemed to be crude 
and undigested. There seemed to be lacking any clear definite 
idea of what an agricultural education consisted in, and how it 
was to be obtained, and what specific results were to flow from 
the establishment of an agricultural college; or of the manner 
in which such an institution must necessarily be conducted. 
Lacking a clear idea of their object, they lacked clear ideas of 
how to attain it. It would seem to me that a clear simple state- 
ment of the constituents of an agricultural college—of the know- 
ledge to be gained at an agricultural college—with an account of 
the various professorships of such a college—the manner of the 
prosecutions of the studies—the studies themselves, the length of 
the course, and the practical benefits resulting {from such a col- 
lege; it seems to me that such a statement, simply and clearly 
made and abounding in illustrations, widely circulated through- 
out the State, throu cb. the agency of the county agricultural 
societies, would be 4 iést and most effective way of foster- 
ing the present j he subject, giving it a distinct aim, 
and guiding it to nd definite end. 

Previous to the ¢ ont of the People’s Convention, held 
to consider the feasible "means of introducing and supporting 
a proper system of agricultural education, the following sensible 
resolutions were adopted, havi eported by the Com- 
mittee appointed for that pu mes are given ina 
former letter: ; 


Wuereas, The true we 
upon the development of th 
whereas, the great majority 
must ever be tillers of the s 
education of the childr 
fit them for the duties 
duties of American ci 
therefore, 

Resolved, That the tim 


tates depends 
itizens ; and 
ate are, and 
ans for the 
as to best 
still higher 
y defective ; 


as now fully le endowment 

and organization of such additional insti 8, departments, or 
_courses of public instruction, as will more fully meet the wants 
, of the industrial.classes of the citizens of t ate. 


37 


Resolved, That this Convention hereby request the executive 
Committees of our State Agricultural and Horticultural Societies 
to appoint a committee, whose duty it shall be—Ist, to memori- 
alize Congress to grant to each of the States of the Union such 
aid as was contemplated in the bill called the “ Morrill Bill,” 
which passed the House and Senate at a recent session; 2d, to 
memorialize and urge upon our State Legislature, to renew their 
petition to Congress for the same substantial aid; 3d, to urge 
the establishment by the State Legislature of a school or de- 
partment of agriculture, under the general direction of a board 
appointed conjointly by the same State Agricultural and Horti- 
cultural Societies, for this purpose; 4th, to provide courses of 
lectures on agriculture and horticulture similar to the course at 
the last session in Yale College, to be delivered at such times 
and places as they shall deem most fit, and to take all measures 
needful to secure these results. 

Resolved, That in our opinion a prominent place should be 
given to natural history and agricultural and industrial art in all 
our institutions of popular education, and especially in our nor- 
mal and common schools; and that it should be the first care of 
the State to raise up a corps of able teachers, competent to in- 
struct in these departments in all our schools. 

Kesolved, That we rejoice in all efforts made in our State, in 
whatever quarter, to realize these results; and that we will en- 
courage and aid all such efforts in any W2 which @ wise use of 
our means will allow. * 

Resolved, That we especially approve forts being made 
in our Colleges to meet this great w: me. 

Resolved, That this Convention 
to the presidents and officers of our , and local agricultu- 
ral, horticultural and mechanical associations, to call a meeting of 
their respective boards or societies to take into earnest. consider- 
ation such measures as they may deem most expedient, and to 
co-operate with the Sts s and with this Convention for 
the attaining the ¢ ends. 

Resolved, That ) the directors of each school 
district to call me reral districts to discuss the 
subject of educ what further means of edu- 
cation they mos 

Resolved, Tha 
selection of 
keep these in 


If these re 


to all our fellow-citizens in the 
public a? and trust, ever to 


: and energetically carried 
into effect, there will result a comple organization which cannot 
fail to be fenitfal saa effect. We particularly commend the 
seventh of the above resolutions; for, to meet success, this move- 


— 


38 


ment must spring, not from a few eminent men, but from the 
farmers themselves. They must discuss among themselves, at 
their own houses, in their own way, and every locality for itself, 
“what further means of education they most need.” When 
they once begin to do this, when they see and feel that there are 
poorly worked farms which might with proper knowledge be cul- 
tivated to better advantage and larger results; when they once 
meet to talk about these things, that very moment the whole 
work is accomplished. For, this feeling, once excited in the 
breasts of the farmers, will not rest quiescent, but will spread 
like the fire on their own prairies, and next year—let your reader 
mark the prediction—will behold a body of men who will not 
be put down, demanding and resolutely determined on having 
a great school to promote the interests of agriculture in our 
State, and who will move heaven and earth to accomplish that 
result. Persistency and organization will accomplish anything ; 
and to gain the objects of the Convention held at this time, it is 
only necessary that there be carried out the methods of organiz- 
ation pointed out in the above resolutions; for, in regard to 
persistency, this movement is in the hands of men who cling 
with an indomitable energy to whatever they take hold of, and 
never were known tO let an | enterprise ‘“ go by the board ” while 
there remained @ " life in it. 

The objects com ated by the Convention in founding an 
agricultural school, should not be misunderstood. Such a school 
is not intended or expected to take “nice young gentlemen” 
from our cities, and transform them | into ap top oll aie a 
a brief training. Their farming ¥ bc 
a vengeance, and would resu : 
Such a school is intended pr . of farmers, Who 


are practical farmers at thé show and when to 
plow and rotate their crops, @ ‘to take charge 
of a farm and manage it as re Ss ‘neighbor. It is 
believed there is a fund of know ng, based upon - 


careful, repeated, and” xi lente; of which the 
mass of our farmers are i ; th arming, as in other 
occupations, there are certain best things to be done, and certain 
best ways of doing them, and that an agricultural school properly 
conducted, is the only practical medium for the communication | 


39 


of this knowledge. No one farmer can find out all these things 
for himself, for his life is too short, and these experiments too 
various and too costly for him to try and test them by his own 
experience. Farmers’ sons would spend their time at such an 
institution in honest hard work, reaping that which students at 
colleges seldom or never do—all the advantages placed within 
their reach; for their past life would enable them to appreciate 
and grasp quickly all matters pertaining to farming, and they 
would seize every improvement as something of use on the farms 
they were going right back to. On returning to their farms, 
these men would not only be benefitted themselves, but become 
honored centers of blessed influence in their neighborhoods. I 
cannot, perhaps, better illustrate my meaning than by quoting an 
instance given by Charles Kingsley in one of his recent lectures 
in England. He says: ! 

“A friend of mine, and one whom I am proud to call my 
friend, succeeding to an estate, thought good to cultivate it him- 
self; and being a man of common sense, he thought good to 
know something of what he was doing. And he said to him- 
self: . ‘The soil, and the rain, and the air, are my raw materials; 
I ought surely, then, to find out what soil, and rain, and air are. 
Vegetable substances are what I am to make ; and I ought surely 
to know what it is that I am making e raw material does 
somehow or other become manufac Mmto the produce—the 
soil into the vegetable; and I ought surely to know a little about 
the processes of my own manufacture. Chance and blind 
custom are not enough for me. At best, they can but leave me 
where they found me—at_ their mercy. Science I need; and 
science I will acqu t was the result? After many a 
mistake and disa I succeeded in discovering on his 
own estate a m ted wealth—not of gold, indeed, 
but of gold’s 1 nts of human food. He discov-— 
ered why som pa te were fertile, while others were ~ 
barren ; and by ay nowledge thus gained, he convert- 
ed some of his most fields into his most fertile ones; he 
preserved, Wea gain, his crops from blight, while those of 
others perished all around him; he won for himself wealth, and 
the respect and honor of men of science; while those around 
him, slowly opening their eyes to his Wipravererita: followed his 


40 


lessons at second-hand, till the whole agriculture of an important 
district has become gradually but permanently improved, under 
the auspices of one patient and brave man, who knew that 
knowledge was power, and that only by learning nature’s laws 
and obeying her, can she be conquered by man.” 

There must ever be remembered in this connection, that which 
your readers in Chicago are apt to lose sight of, that the great 
interests of Illinois are agricultural; or, as pithily expressed in 
the preamble to the above resolutions, “‘the great majority of 
the citizens of this State are, and must ever be tillers of the 
soil;” and that any aid extended to founding a systematic agri- 
cultural education is lending a helping hand to the development 
of her chief source of wealth and prosperity. 


ANNIVERSARY OF THE STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY. 


[From the Cuicaco Times, June 29th.] 


The day has been profitably spent in paying attention to the 
examination of the classes in the State Normal University. 

As I took my seat upon the platform, and faced the eager and 
hopeful countenances of those before me, my mind could not but 
recur to the days when I, too, was a student, and looked up 
from my seat to the platform with as eager a countenance, though, 
perhaps with not so hopeful a heart. And as the different classes 
were examined, old associations thronged in upon me, and there 
came vividly before me feelings with which I had gone over the 
same branches, and I could see the old school-books, with the 
ever-occurring blots, and the whittled benches of my school 
days, and for the moment, sad regrets came to me, as I realized 
that the pleasant days of school life had passed away, never 
to return again, and that the only school now youchsafed to me, 
was that hard one whose stern and severe lessons are taught by 
the bitter and unwelcome experience of life. Thinking of my 
old school life, I could but’feel, as I always do in listening to the 
examinations of our present common schools, the superiority of the 
educational advantages now enjoyed, in comparison with those 
which were current in ae on or fifteen years ago of my student 
life. These advantages consist in the thoroughness of the pre- 
sent training; the dl U anding of principles given; the 
definitness of know d; and the numerous appliances 
in the way of systemati -books; trained and well-feed 
teachers; completely co mmodious buildings, adding to the beauty 
of any es where located; and the necessary school appar- 


atus, maps, and improved school furniture, And it is gratifying 
to every citizen to know that these advantages are in their best 
organization fully placed within the reach of every one through 
the channels of our common schools. It is the general testimony 


42 


of all, whose attention has been directed to the subject, that the 
training and education secured in our common schools, is vastly 
superior to that to be gained from any private seminaries or 
academies of learning. The thoroughness with which the com- 
mon school system of our State has been elaborated, organized, 
and carried out, is the just pride of every citizen. 

Our State Normal University is justly regarded as the noble 
crown and diadem of our common school system in this State. 

The exercises of Thursday A. M., commenced with the sing- 
ing of one of those old, simple, plainly marked chorals, which 
are the only things fit to be sung by assemblies. The depart- 
ment of singing has been under the charge of Mr. Cady, of 
Root & Cady, and the success of his efforts fully sustain his 
reputation, and testify to the merits of his system. 

The exercises in reading were marked by that distinctness of 
- utterance and delicate feeling of emphasis, which characterize 
the reading exercises in our normal schools. 

At private seminaries, the examination of classes are usually 
conducted in a way calculated to humbug the public, the 
classes being drilled for the express purpose of “showing off ” 
at examination, and aware of the ground to be gone over. The 
contrary was the case here, the course pursued being such as to 
put to the Severgae test the capacity of the scholars and the 
teachers. The Board of Education, having been presented with 
a list of the studies pursued by the classes during the year, and 
the teachers to whom the charge of such classes had been given, 
at the opening of the examination, selected those classes which 
would be examined during the forenoon; and pursued the same 
course during the afternoon. The classes examined during the 
day were those in Latin, Arithmetic, Physical Geography, An- 
cient History, Botany, and English Literature. They were all 
conducted in a manner and spirit ereditable alike to scholars and 
teachers. My attention was cal 0 these features in the exam- 
ination of the classes in Latin, the intimate acquaintance with 
the full description of all circumstances connected with the proper 
names in the lessons; the knowledge of the English words de- 
rived from the words in the lesson; and the attention paid to 
the laws regulating accent, quantity and syllabification. I 
never heard a clearer explanation of the principles and applica- 


43 


tion of arithmetical rules. The class in Physical Geography 
attracted me, from the peculiar interest of the subject, and from 
the fact that during that part of my life spent in school acade- 
mies and college, this had not been in the course of studies of 
any of them, while it is now, by means of our common schools, 
studied throughout the land. 

At the close of the morning’s session, in passing out of the 
building, my attention was called by Dr. Rex, one of the Board 
of Education, to what an agriculturist would call the model and 
experimental farm of the University, a class of thirty or forty 
children, residents of Bloomington, under the competent charge — 
of Miss Brooks, whose ability in conducting a school is so 
great, that we regret the University are about to lose her ser- 
vices. This school is a perfect little gem, and its examination 
at the close of the afternoon session, was one of the marked 
features of the occasion. It is intended to be in every respect 
the model of a perfect school, so as to keep constantly before 
the attention and notice of the students an example of the man- 
ner in which a school should be conducted and managed in all — 
respects. The members of this class presented to their retiring 
teacher, Miss Brooks, at the close of the exercises, a beautiful 
writing-desk, to remind her of the esteem and affection she had 
gained in the hearts of her class. It was presented in a neat 
manner by one of their number, and appropriately acknowledged 
on behalf of the fair recipient by the Principal of the University. 

The impression left upon my mind by the exercises of to-day, 
is that the State Normal University is doing a noble work for 
the State in giving a really solid, substantial and thorough edu- 
cation and training to those who are to become the future teach- 
ers of her schools. | 


(rem the Pures AND TRIBUNE. ] 


Much has been written concerning the State Maemal School, 
yet it has been put before our readers necessarily hitherto in— 
a scattered and desultory manner. Now that the noble enter- 
prise stands so nearly completed, a sketch of its history and 
what it has accomplished will properly preface the proposed refer- 
ence to the exercises of the week. : 

The State Normal University, for some years previous a topic 
of earnest discussion among the friends of popular education in 


44 | 


Illinois, owes its existence, in its present form, to a bill which 

passed the Illinois Legislature in the winter of 1856-57, by which 
fourteen persons, named therein, were created the “Board of 
Education,” of which the Superintendent of Public Instruction is 
made an ex officio member, which Board was endowed with full 
power to establish and control the institution in accordance with 
the provisions of the bill. 

The first meeting of the Board of Education was held in May, 
1857. Their earliest action was taken in the direction of arriving 
at a choice of location. After an investigation and examination 
of the bids put in by several points in the State, the pretty city 
of Bloomington, the center and County Seat of McLean county, 
was fixed upon, the city and county having offered, in cash and in 
land, subscriptions amounting to $141,000. 

Bloomington is worthy a brief preliminary reference, both in 
its own behalf, and as in thus being made the prominent seat and 
fountain-head of Popular Education in Illinois. It is now a city 
of about eight thousand inhabitants, and possesses all the aspects 
of a thriving and prosperous community. Long blocks of stores 
and business structures, several neat, and some of them handsome 
and substantial, churches, eight steam driven manufacturing es- 
tablishments, well kept hotels, and, scattered throughout the city 
proper and the town plot, trim looking and in many eases elegant 
private residences,—these all, with excellent public schools, 
besides three institutions of learning of the higher class, are each 
an indication that the entire surroundings and influences adjacent 
to the Normal School are eminently happy. 

And when one stands in the midst of this busy little city, it 
furnishes a most striking proof of the marvellous growth of this 
section in common with other points in the Northwest—the cir- 
cumstance that there still lives here a gentleman, not an aged man, 
James Allin, Sen., who about the year 1828 owned this whole 
_ tract, on which stands the city of Bloomington. Numbers of 
other citizens who are yet hale and hearty, and in the possession of 
more than a comfortable independence, were here at the time of 
the first land sale in 1830. Such are the marvels of the West. 

The Normal School having been here located, a site was selected 
for the proposed edifice a little north of the city on a high and 
commanding swell of the prairie, surrounded by the one hundred 


i. 


45 


and sixty acres of its grounds and model farm, all immediately 
adjacent to the intersection of the main branch of the Illinois 
Central with the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad. 

A large share, or $70,000 of the subscriptions of the county 
and city was in swamp lands, at the time, 1857, promising to 
realize ready proceeds as the exigencies of the building in its 
progress might require. This prospect, however, the financial 
crisis defeated at that time, and left the Board of Education in a 
position which promised no immediate results in the direction of | 
-a@ permanent structure. 

They went hopefully at work, however, and after a report from 
a special commission, Messrs. Rex and Hovey, who were depu- 
tized to visit kindred institutions at the East, the plans and draw- 
ings of the Normal University buildings were executed by G. 
P. Randall, of Chicago, under the supervision of C. E. Hovey, 
of the above commission, and then and now the Principal of 
the school. The corner stone of the edifice was laid, with ap- 
propriate ceremonies, on the 29th day of September, 1857—made 
an occasion of much interest and large attendance. The work 
was, however, interrupted for a time by the pressure of money 
matters. How well and notably the friends of the enterprise 
have filled this interval, will be a matter to which will be 
devoted the required space elsewhere in these reports, in a 
description in detail, the now completed and noble building 
deserves. 

There was, however, no delay or tardiness in organizing the 
Normal School, though at first and until now, the present period 
of graduating its first class, the occupant of hired quarters in 
Major’s block in the heart of the city of Bloomington. The 
Normal School opened in these quarters, October, 5th, 1857, with 
nineteen students, of which six were males. The number how- 
ever went speedily up to forty-three for the first term. Since that 
time the schoo] has been in regular operation, and continually 
laying more broad and deep its foundations for that usefulness it 
is now confidently expected it is soon to enjoy in quarters of its. 
own. 


EXAMINATIONS AT THE NORMAL UNIVERSITY. 


[From the Press AnD TRIBtNE.] 


Thursday was one of. exceeding interest to the numerous friends 
of education gathered at Bloomington, on this the third anniver- 
sary of the State Normal School. In my last letter I gave a 
brief review of the enterprise from its inception to the present 
time. To write fully the history of the successive stages of its 
progress through all the intermediate stages and phases—first a 
mere purpose in the minds of a few zealous friends of popular 
education; next ina bill passed by the Legislature; then as gener- 
ously welcomed by this noble little city; and so on, step by step, 
until from being merely in the future, the State Normal School of 
Illinois has come to be a living, breathing actuality, with a splen- 
did building, the finest ever erected for such a purpose in the 
United States—such a history, could it be written, would be a 
record of a stern and protracted struggle with mountain difficul- 
ties and obstacles, and an overcoming of all, by the force of 
dauntless zeal and indefatigable will. 

It has been done. From being a mere architect’s plan, a coveted 
castle in the air, the splendid building stands completed, and 
is to be to-morrow occupied for the first time, on an occasion 
worthily made a gala day and festive occasion by the citizens of 
Bloomington. 

But an edifice, however costly, is worth nothing if it lack a 
soul. The casket, after all, is secondary to the tenant. I shall 
write of the building anon. Meanwhile, What of the State Nor- 
mal School? Is it worthy of the structure it is to occupy ? 

A large audience have all this day been preparing to answer 
this question, in so far as the careful and protracted annual exam- 
inations to-day closed could indicate the same. 

On the 23d day of June, 1857, as already stated, the State Nor- 
mal School went into operation in this city, leasing for the pur- 


* 


47 


pose the upper stories of Major’s block, giving them alarge upper 
hall, the same, by the way, that was occupied by the State Re- 
publican Convention in 1856. On the second floor are six smaller 
apartments, used as model school rooms, recitation rooms, etc., etc. 

Charles E. Hovey has been from the first at the head of the 
management of the school, associated with whom, at the present 
time, are Ira Moore, Professor of Mathematics; Edwin C. Hew- 
ett, Professor of Geography and Natural History; Lewis H. 
Potter, Professor of Languages; C. M. Cady, Professor of Music, 
and Miss Mary M. Brooks, Teacher of the Model School. 

Many disadvantages have been experienced by the school and 
instructors by cramped and in many respects unsuitable accommo- 
dations, and by the demand implied in and fastened upon its super- 
visory management to keep moving forward the coveted and in- 
dispensable project, now accomplished, of a suitable building. 

The teachers, Mr. Hovey most especially, may be almost said 
to have toiled with building implements in one hand and the text 
book in the other, and carried the constantly wedded cares of 
securing the desired end of intellectual training and qualification 
for the teacher’s profession among the students, and of providing, 
during a season of pecuniary embarrassment, the material aid for 
the progress of the structure. Both have been done, and well. 
I shall describe the one in connection with the first exercises to 
take place within its halls to-morrow. Yesterday showed the 
School to be worthy of their new building. 

In Major’s Hall yesterday about one hundred students of both 
sexes were thus gathered, of whom eleven, the first graduating 
class, are to receive diplomas to-morrow. JBrought in from 
throughout the borders of our State, their appearance and intelli- 
gence would do credit to any section of the State, and from first ap- 
pearances, to such visitors as were for the first time there present, 
it was manifest that the welfare of the Institution is in good hands, 
in the important respect of class and character of its students. 
Nor were first impressions defeated by the events of the day. 

I was glad to see among the spectators on the platform, his 
Excellency, Gov. Wood, Hon. Jesse K. Dubois, Hon. Newton 
Bateman, of Springfield, State Supt. of Public Instruction, the 
entire State Board of Education, Capt. J. N. Brown, Lewis Ells- — 
worth and a large number of well-known and prominent citizens 


# 


48 


of our State. It furnishes a pleasing and significant token of the 
fast hold the cause of popular education has taken on the hearts 
of our people when such, as many of those present, turn aside 
from important duties of State and private life, for a day among 
students. 

The exercises were opened at 9 A. M., by devotional exercises, 
conducted by Mr. Hovey, the Principal. These exercises were 
brief, beautifully simple and impressive, and worthy of introduc- 
tion in all our Schools. 

A chapter of the New Testament was first intoned after the 
manner of the Church service, the Principal and the entire school 
in concert reading alternate verses. Then followed the brief, 
unsectarian, yet purely religious exercise of the Lord’s Prayer, 
repeated in concert, every head bowed throughout the same. 


The class in Virgil, consisting of some ten or twelve students, — 


were then called out and exercised under Professor Potter, in 
selections taken at random from the two first books of the Aineid. 
’ This was a thorough and generally a commendable exhibition. 
The students were made in turn to assume the teacher’s post and 
question one another. No chance was afforded for collusion, 
and for benefit from any “cramming” process, and there seemed 
to be need of none. 

This exercise was succeeded by a short recess, after the wise 
Normal School regulation of only fifty minutes confinement 
at a time, instead of ninety, the rule when we pressed the school 
formas a pupil. A large class in Mathematics were then sub- 
mitted to a very thorough drill by Professor Moore, the students 
manifesting the results of careful training to the end of quickness 
and precision of calculation. _ 

Again followed a brief recess, after which a class was called out 
for examination in Physical Geography, from the nature of the 
pursuit, and the evident zest with which the students had pur- 
sued it, one of the most interesting exercises of the day. 

Professor C. M. Cady, of Root & Cady, of Chicago, in a way 
both business and professional, identified prominently with musi- 
cal culture in this State, during the forenoon exercises twice led 
the entire school in well-executed singing. This branch of instruc- 
tion is not a mere form, but the students of both sexes are dili- 
gently and carefully trained to sing, and to teach in singing. 


~ 


49 


Vocal music should be carried into the schools and become a 
regular part of the exercises, and this is eminently the practice 
and precept of the State Normal School. 

The intermission was one hour and a half, and the hall was 
filled again at half past one in the afternoon, and exercises in 
Botany, Ancient History and Literature occupied the afternoon. 
But of these I can make no extended separate mention. The 
last named is a branch of study of value and interest, as giving 
the student familiarity with, and classification of, the world’s 
modern poets, novelists and literateurs of the higher grade, 

I had more than once during the day been won from the exer- 
cises in the upper hall, by the sweet sound of childish voices, in 
perfect unison and tune, rising from the apartment on the second 
floor occupied as the Model School. There I found, and not for 
the first time during my visit, about thirty young lads and misses, 
with their teacher, Miss Brooks, forming altogether one of the 
happiest and most united little communities imaginable. Nothing 
was straight-laced because this was Model School, not one of the 
little folk was in a straight jacket because this was “ examination 
day,” but all moved off, each child apparently as responsive 
to their teacher’s voice and look, as organ keys to the touch of a 
skillful player. 

How the little folks read in concert, and sang in concert like a 
tree full of canaries, and how they mounted huge questions in 
geography, and went at the maps as a pastime, and how they, at 
the close of the exercises of the afternoon, filed up into the hall 
and took their places on the platform—a bright parterre of happy 
faces, and how they went through their exercises until old faces 
among the audience forgot their wrinkles, and frosty pows fairly 
nodded with delight, tears bedimming more than one set of “ eyes 
unused to weep” through the sweet softening influence of happy 
childhood; behold, is not all this, and more, fast and indelible in 
the memories of the lookers on during this anniversary of the 
Normal School. ; : 

Thus prepared by the exhibition of her works in the proficiency 
of these little ones, the audience were fully in sympathy when 
little Miss Fanny Graves came forward, and in a neat little falter- 
ing but clear address, presented to Miss Brooks—who now resigns 
her charge—a beautiful writing desk as a gift from her pupils. 

4 


COMMENCEMENT AT THE STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY. 


[From the Press AND TRIBUNE. ] 


Friday witnessed the first Anniversary of the State Normal 
University, the completion of its curriculum of three years’ study 
by the graduating class, and the Commencement Exercises and 
its attendant features, in the noble building just completed. 

I gave you in my last, some reference to the Examination Exer- 
cises of Thursday, in Major’s Hall, the final connection and last 
appearance of the Normal instructors and students in those 
hired apartments, thus far occupied, now to be dismantled by the 
transfer of books, desks, maps, etc., etc., to ample and commo- 
dious quarters and permanent home in the new building. 

This structure, a noble brick ‘edifice, stands, as I have already 
stated in previous letters, on a fine swell of the rolling prairie, 
about a mile and a half north of the road. It has been erected 
during the period of great depression in money matters, which 
has fallen heavily upon this in common with other sections of the 
State. Its cost was a little over $100,000, and it is pronounced 
by all an excellent product for even that liberal sum. Certainly 
it is the finest Normal School edifice in the United States. 

In the somewhat of detail this reference deserves, the credit 
of architecture and general superintendence should be given to 
Geo. P. Randall, Esq., of Chicago. Messrs. Mortimer & Loberg, 
of Chicago, were the original contractors for the masonry, but 
on the necessary suspension of the work, at the coming of the 
crisis in money matters, they surrendered the work. T. D. 
Rounds, of this city, has since carried the masonry to comple- 
tion. 

In devising inside plans for the University edifice, it was neces- 
sary to determine, in advance, the principle on which the school 
should be organized. Three systems were considered, which 
may be distinguished by the terms, College, Graded, and Lancas- 
terian. Should the College plan be adopted, then a chapel and 


ol 


class rooms, no matter whether adjacent or not, would alone be 
required. If the Graded system prevailed, separate rooms for 
each teacher, with study desks and all the appurtenances of 
an independent school, would be necessary. The Lancasterian 
plan would require a large assembly or study room, with adjacent 
class-rooms. 

It was evident, on reflection, that the College plan would not 
do, and just as evident that the Graded plan was best adapted to 
the Model School, while the Lancasterian possessed some advan- 
tages for the Normal. It was, therefore, determined to combine 
the two, and to construct a more complete edifice than any now 
existing on this continent for a similar purpose. It was neces- 
sary to provide for the Normal School, the Model School, the 
Janitor, a Library, a Gallery of Fine Arts, a Museum of Natural 
History, and for such other adjuncts as might aid the general 
purpose of the University. 

The basement story is mainly above ground. Here is the 
Janitor’s house, consisting of a parlor, kitchen, cellar, three bed- 
rooms, etc.; a storage-room; a laboratory ; a chemical lecture- 
room; boiler or furnace-rooms; boys’ and girls’ play-rooms, for 
the Model School, to be used in stormy weather (32 ft. 6 in. by 
48 ft. 4 in.); corridors and stairways. 

The first story is 15 feet high in the clear, and contains the 
reception room, Principal’s room, teacher’s room, text-book and 
apparatus room, wardrobes, and four Model School rooms, two of 
which are 32 feet square, and two 25 feet 6 inches by 37 feet 6 
inches. ‘These rooms are intended for a Primary, Intermediate, 
a Grammar, and a High School, and will accommodate fifty 
pupils each. Students enter the building at the east and west 
ends, and visitors at the south front. The first floor is reached 
by four flights of stone steps. 

The second floor is devoted to the Normal Sahonh In the 
center is placed the assembly room, sufficiently ample to seat 300 
students. On either side of it are four large recitation rooms, 
and at one end are two of smaller dimensions, making ten in all. 
These rooms have been so arranged that 300 students can pass 
from the assembly room to the class rooms, or vice versa, in two 
minutes’ time, and without at all interfering with each other. 
This story is 16 feet zy in the clear. ; 


52: 


~ On the third floor, 20 feet high in the clear, is located Normal 
Hall, large enough to hold 1,000 people. On one side of it is 
the Museum of Natural History and the Library; on the other, 
the Gallery of Fine Arts, the drawing-room and the ante-room 
for the Hall. This story is reached by four broad stairways, as 
is also the second story; wae the amplest means of ingress 
and egress. 

The building is so platined that it may be heated by stoves, 
furnaces, or steam. 

The “design” that is to be followed in the improvement of 
the grounds of the University, was prepared by Wm. Saunders, 
Esq., of Philadelphia, and exhibits not only the proportions of 
the fifty-six acres composing the immediate site of the edifice, 
but the proposed walks, garden, grouping of trees and shrubs, 
together with the St. Louis, Alton & Chicago Railroad at the 
south. The Illinois Central Railroad crosses the Chicago, Alton 
& St. Louis Railroad a little to the east of the grounds. The 
building is in full view of both these great thoroughfares. 

T. H. Soper, of Chicago, has made an excellent job of the 
joiner-work, painting, etc. White, Thomas & Co., the plastering, 
and Greenbaum Sons, the plumbing and tin roof. The entire 
work will bear the closest inspection, and compare handsomely 
with any public building in the State. _ 

The citizens here feel a just pride in the completion of an en- 
terprise they so liberally welcomed, and have been for the week 
past astir for bringing about of liberal preparations of hospitable 
purpose and intent, in the shape of a collation in Normal Hall, im- 
mediately to follow the Commencement Exercises of to-day. 

All has passed off as per programme. A fine rain had laid the 
dust, and restored freshness to the face of nature, and by nine 
o’clock the road from town toward the University was a busy 
scene, with vehicles of all classes, and numerous pedestrians, 
which movement resulted in a goodly gathering that filled the 
spacious hall of the Normal School by the time appointed for 
opening the literary entertainment of the forenoon. 

The audience was of a class largely and liberally, both in char- 
acter and numbers, to attest the interest and pride of the citizens 
of our State in this noble enterprise. Substantial farmers from 
various sections of the State, had remained after the close of the © 


D8 


late Agricultural Convention, to witness the first ‘* Commence- 
ment Day” in the Normal School. Prominent citizens of 
McLean county and the city of Bloomington were there. Our 
State Officers were represented in the presence of Hon. Jesse K. 
Dubois, Auditor, and Hon. Newton Bateman, Superintendent of 
Public Instruction, both interested spectators of the exercises of 
these two days past. There were numerous clergymen of this 
section, and nearly the entire State Board of Education. 

The Principal, Charles E. Hovey, presided, and the following 
was the order of exercises, which gives, in addition to the names . 
and part taken by each student, the county represented by each 
on the roll of the school: 


ORDER OF EXERCISES. 


__ \ 


THE LORD’S PRAYER. 


SO Orane Ma hs Gay shy saiatiarns<ssscae seeee--Enoch A. Gastman, McLean County, 
‘* The Fine Artsin the School Room,”...........- Mary F. Washburn, McLean County. 
‘¢The Agriculturist,”..........2 shown teastaves . Edwin Philbrook, Fayette County. 


MUSIC. 
Corvus From ‘‘ MASANEILLO”—Away, away, the Morning freshly breaking.—Awber. 
“ What Poverty has done,”............ ¥.0 ay dd swe eee Silas Hays, McLean County. 


** The Worship of the Past,” ..........cccsccses Elizabeth J. Mitchell, McLean County. 
7 MYMUSOMENG,” Sew ccacclceaes se casuindece Wi des weais .... Peter Harper, Peoria County. 


MUSIC. 
Semt-Cuorus—Male Voices—The Ship of Union. Words by Longfellow, Music by Geo. 
F. Root. 
$¢ Our Qala is uk y cass bu seas coadedes CARERS .ssseese-J0hn Hull, Marion County. 
“ The Wealth of a Nation, in its Men,”.......... ... Frances A. Peterson, Lee County. 


MUSIC. 
Four-part Sonc—Never forget the dear ones.—Geo. F. Root. 


** Hereditary Opinions,”..... Picton MEU K cicadas ot deni Sarah M. Dunn, McLean County. 
‘* Positive and Negative Men,”............eeceeees -....J0s. @. Howell, White County. 


MUSIC. 
GRADUATING CLass Sonc—Arranged by C. M. Cady. 


We walked, the morning sun beneath, 
Glad wand’ring side by side, 

Our hopes entwined, a pleasant wreath, 
Bright friendship’s smile our guide, 

With heart and hand united sped, 
United still in heart, 

We now, toward separate pathways led, 
Perchance forever part. 


54 


We part ere yet the noon grows hot, 
Or threatening storms appear, 

While yet ‘ the evil days come not,” 
‘To cloud each joyous year. 

Our feet shall tread in different ways, 
Thro’ sun and shade we'll roam; 

Yet every path thro’ varied maze, 
May lead to one blest home. 


And when in evening shade we stand— 
Our wearied earth toil o’er— 

Still longing for the unknown land, 
For morning evermore— 

Oh, may we to our God, the Light, 
Uplift our gaze afar, 

Beholding thro’ the darksome night 
The bright and morning star. 


GRANTING OF DIPLOMAS. 
Prayer, by Rev. Alfred Eddy, of Bloomington. 


It is no place here, nor have I the disposition to follow through 
the list for critical reference to the merits of the parts of the ex- 
ercises, though I have listened to numerous college commence- 
ment exercises Jess worthy of honorable mention. . The corps of 
working teachers of our State is certainly the richer in the acces- 
sion of these eleven, who, in a neat and appropriate address by 
S. W. Moulton, Esq., of Shelby county, President of the State 
Board of Education, were each presented with diplomas bearing 
the following : 


DIPLOMA STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY. 


This certifies that has completed the full 
course of study and practice prescribed for students in this 
Institution. C. E. Hovey, Prine’l. 


Given at the University, Bloomington, Juné 29, 1860, by or- 
der of the Board of Education of the State of Illinois. 


8. W. Movtrton, Pres’t. 
NEWTON BATEMAN, Sec’y. 


The students of the Normal School, as stated, receive free 
tuition, one from each county and one from each representative 
district being entitled to this privilege. Each, on entering, signs 
the following 

STUDENT’S PLEDGE. 

“T hereby declare my intention to become a teacher in the 
Schools of this State; and agree that for three years after leaving 
the University, I will report, in writing, to the Principal thereof, 
in June and December of each year, where I have been, and in 
what employed.” 


55 


These graduates will find ready engagements in their teacher’s 
work, and would that there were a thousand more “ of the same 
sort” ready, equally well fitted by thorough Normal School train- 
ing, for the great mission that is theirs. 

There have been about forty different members of the class now 
graduated, the residue and larger share of which have remained 
for longer or shorter periods, from a single term to nearly the 
entire course, connected with the Institution. 

But meanwhile, the exercises have closed, and something else 
has succeeded, the busy clatter of plates and dishes from the 
upper hall tells of what nature. It is filled with a crowd busy 
with the abundant fare provided ms the generous ladies of Bloom- 
ington. 

To this repast succeeded a «“ feast of reason” ina series of 
sentiments and responses, in which were spss called up 
gentlemen present, citizens and from abroad. It was a pleasant 
and creditable affair throughout, and fitly closed the day. 

The Normal University remains closed for eleven weeks, to re- 
open September 17th. A point has passed in its history which 
bounds its infancy, and brings it, on the opening of its fall term, 
into full and vigorous usefulness. 


COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES. 
[From the Cuicaco Trimgs.] 

Crowds flocked in to-day to witness the Commencement Exer- 
cises of the State Normal University. The heavy rains of yester- 
day prevented as full an attendance as there would otherwise 
have been, but a spacious hall in the beautiful new edifice of the 
University, was filled to overflowing ;—at least 1,500 were pre- 
sent. The exercises were opened in the usual manner of Normal 
Schools, by singing and the offering of the Lord’s Prayer by the 
teachers and students in concert, the clear enunciation of which, 
in chastened, subdued tones, gave an impression of solemnity to 
an exercise which too often degenerates into a mere formality. 

The singing, under the excellent, practical training of Mr. 
Cady, and in a hall so adapted for musical purposes, was one of 
the features of the day. The speeches were all plain, practical 
and fullof common sense. The compositions of the young ladies, 
who generally bear away the palm on such occasions, were most 
excellent. 


56 


After these exercises the Diplomas of the University, conferred 
upon the members of the graduating class, were officially pre- 
sented by S. W. Moulton, President of the State Board of Edu- 
cation, who, in a few terse, appropriate remarks, urged upon 
them the conscientious performance of the duties owing by 
them to the people of the State. The eager, trembling hands 
extended to receive these diplomas testified the importance of the 
moment giving to them that honorable certificate of merit, for 
which they had toiled steadily through three long years. At the 
close of the exercises, the whole assembly betook themselves to 
another room in this spacious building, to partake of a bounte- 
ous cold collation, provided in honor of the graduating class and 
the guests, by the ladies of Bloomington. } 

After the collation, toasts were given, and responses made, in 
the most happy manner. The most happy feeling prevailed, and 
those interested in the success of the enterprise felt, from the 
indications of the day, that God had been with them. Thus 
ended a proud day for Illinois, fruitful of advantage to every soul 
within her borders: the day of the inauguration of her State 
Normal University. The impression made upon my mind by the 
attendance upon the exercises of yesterday and to-day, is, that 
the system of instruction is most thorough; no attempt has been 
made throughout the whole to favor any student or to exhibit 
any to advantage, but each stands or falls upon his or her indi- 
vidual merits. A striking instance of this conscientiousness was 
shown in the manner in which the exercises of to-day have been 
prepared. Those who have participated in the commencement 
exercises of the regular colleges, well remember the careful drill- 
ings and professorial aid and advice extended to the participants, 
in order to exhibit the institution in a creditable shape. A 
marked difference has been shown in the treatment of the stu- 
dents here. Just as the exercises were about to commence, Mr. 
Hovey, the Principal of the Institution, stated that the special 
subjects had been assigned as set down in the programme, but 
that the various speeches and compositions had never been seen 
by any of the teachers, who were as ignorant of any thing that 
was to be produced, as any one in the audience. The Institution 
has evidently been busy in working, not in getting ready “ to 
show off.” 


57 


HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY. 


Very few of the people of this State, unless they have been 
here, have any just conception of the worth and character of this 
Normal School enterprise, or of the ability with which it has been 
pushed forward to its present enviable position; and therefore a 
brief sketch of the enterprise, together with the difficulties it has 
encountered and overcome, may be valuable for reference. Some 
six years ago, the teachers of the State of Illinois, feeling the 
necessity of mutual co-operation, and the need of fostering a 
sympathy binding them together as a body, procured the incorpor- 
ation of a society called the State Teachers’ Association, for the 
purpose of removing the feeling of isolation weighing upon them; 
of securing unity and concert of action; of regular and stated 
meetings, comparing experiences as to the most efficient methods 
of teaching, and of drill exercises ;—in short, of doing every- 
thing calculated to prepare them, as a body, for the faithful per- 
formance of the great work entrusted to their charge. 

This Association, thus composed of active teachers, appointed 
a committee, called the Teachers’ Board of Education, who 
should -have general oversight of the cause of education in the 
State, consisting of the President of the Association, and nine 
others taken from their own number. In July, 1856, this Board 
—C. E. Hovey, of McLean County, then being President—met 
at Bloomington, and adopted, among other resolutions, one seek- 
ing for its object the organization of a State Normal School. 
Here was the birth of that enterprise which has eventuated in 
such noble results. When the Association met at Chicago, in De- 
cember of the same year, 8. Wright, of Marion County, being: 
then President, a most active interest was felt, and the matter 
was discussed with unusual earnestness. Every member was 
impressed with the absolute need and want of an institution 
devoted to the training of teachers. The result of their action 
was the appointment of a delegation, with the President as its 
chairman, whose business was to proceed to Springfield, lay the 
matter before the members of the legislature, and secure the pass- 
age of some kind of a bill for the establishment of a State Nor- 
mal School. 

Aided by the experience of other States in the organization of 
similar institutions, especially of Michigan, New York and Mass- 


58 


achusetts, and the efficient co-operation of the acting State Super- 
intendent of Public Instruction, a bill was prepared and intro- 
duced into the Senate, where, after being duly discussed, it was 
passed by a very large majority. It, however, met with vigorous 
opposition in the House, many being desirous of establishing a 
different educational institution ; but by the energetic aid of such 
men as Dr. Goudy, of Christian County, (whose efforts in this 
cause should endear him to the heart of every lover of education,) 
S. W. Moulton, of Shelby County; C. B. Denio, of Jo Daviess 
County; Wesley Sloan, of Pope County, and others, the bill 
finally passed by a majority of one. 

This bill incorporated a State Board of Education, consisting 
of fifteen, (including the State Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion as an ex-officio member,) representing the various interests 
and localities of the State, and who were all prominently before 
the public as true and active friends of the cause of popular edu- 
cation. In the interim, in order to gain time, the Board held 
informal meetings, and appointed committees to acquire informa- 
tion with reference to location and other topics pertaining to the 
interest of the cause, and which might be laid before the Board ~ 
in the succeeding May, which, under the charter, was the time for 
holding its first legal meeting. By the charter, the location was 
to be made at any accessible point, where the greatest induce- 
ments should be offered. Among other localities, Batavia, Wash- 
ington, Peoria and Bloomington, were the foremost competitors, 
each offering superior inducements. It would be impossible for 
any but an eye witness to appreciate the intense excitement and 
interest about this matter of location, arising from the advantages 
to be derived by that place where the institution should be locat- 
ed. After a due deliberation upon the various and delicate con- 
siderations appertaining to this subject, it was decided to locate 
the State Normal University in the vicinity of Bloomington. 
The county of McLean contributed to the erection of the neces- 
sary buildings, $70,000 in lands, at their then appraised value, and 
an additional amount of upwards of $41,000 in lands and money 
was given for the same purpose, almost wholly by citizens of 
Bloomington. This fund would have erected such buildings and 
made such improvements of the land which is the immediate site 
of the building, as were contemplated at the time of location. 
The moneyed crisis, which has crippled the energies of every 


—~59 


interest, public or private, so depreciated the value of the lands 
given, as to have sorely embarrassed the enterprise and amply 
justify the Board in seeking for further aid. Before breaking 
ground for the building, in order to secure the latest improve- 
ments of such institutions, the Board sent two most efficient 
members of their body, George P. Rex, of Pike county, and C. 
E. Hovey, of McLean county, to visit the Normal School build- 
ings throughout the country. As the result of their labors, a 
structure was planned, unsurpassed in its facilities. The greatest 
credit is due to Mr. Hovey, to whose immediate supervision may 
be attributed the combination and consolidation, in the most 
admirable manner, of all possible conveniences and facilities need- 
ed in such a building. To Mr. G. P. Randall, of Chicago, the 
architect of the edifice, for the admirable architectural design of 
the building; and to T. H. Soperand 8. D. Rounds, for the excel- 
lent mechanical execution of the work. The erection of the 
building was begun in the fall of 1857, at which time the founda- 
tion was laid, and a large quantity of material placed upon the 
ground, but owing to the financial revulsion, the work was sus- 
pended for more than a year. It was again resumed in the sum- 
mer of 1859, and has been pushed forward with vigor until the 
present time. 

The building is said to be the best for its purpose in America. 
Imagine yourself in the midst of a large hall, 70 by 80 feet, and 
proportionately high, lighted from the North and South, and 
bounded eastward by a stairway hall, ten feet wide, through 
which, by two flights of easy stairs, the room is approached, and 
across which are four capacious class rooms; and bounded west- 
ward by a similar stairway hall and suit of class rooms, and you 
have the grouping of the rooms on the Normal School floor of the 
State University. This grouping of the class rooms around the 
assembly or study room, with ample means of ingress and egress 
at separate doors, enables a school of three hundred pupils and 
teachers to be shifted from room to room without confusion, and in 
the same time that asingle class could be moved. The double stair- 
ways, on either side of the main hall, one for the gentlemen and 
one for the ladies, furnish ample means of escape in case of acci- 
dent or fire. Passing down these stairways, and on to the princi- 
pal floor, you will find two halls running quite through the build- 


60 


ing, crossing each other in the centre at right angles, and termi- 
nating in the middle of the sides and ends by vestibules, outside 
doors, stairs, etc. The students enter at the east and west ends, 
near which are their dressing rooms, which, by the way, area 
noticeable feature of the edifice. They are large, fitted up with 
wash bowls, hat hooks, mirrors, boxes for rubbers and slippers, 
and are located close by the entrances, so that students, in muddy 
_ weather, can exchange their soiled boots for slippers, before they 
have passed far enough into the building to soil the floors. Visi- 
tors enter at the south front, and immediately on passing the 
vestibule, find the public reception room on the right. On the 
north side of the building, on this floor, ranged side by side, are 
four model school rooms, intended for fifty pupils each, and for 
the four grades—Primary, Intermediate, Grammar and High. _ 

Passing down one more flight of stairs, you find yourself in - 
what is termed the basement, although it is high and mostly 
above ground. Here are the Janitor’s house, chemical, lecture 
and laboratory rooms, gymnasium, water closets, coal and furnace 
or boiler rooms. 

If you will now go back to the second story, or Normal school 
room, and ascend still another flight of stairs, you will be greeted 
with the sight of one of the finest halls in the State—it is high, 
airy and ample. In this story are the debating rooms of the 
Philadelphian and Wrightonian Societies, the Gallery of Art, the 
Museum of the Illinois Natural History Society, and the Library. 
Ascend one more flight of stairs, and you reach the floor under 
the roof, some eighty feet from the ground, and will discover two 
immense water tanks, running nearly across the building, and 
capable of holding 160 tons of water. Pass on, and you will 
reach the bell-tower and observatory, affording a fine view of 
the city and adjacent prairies. The tower is surmounted by a 
dome, elevated forty feet above the roof. 

The building yet lacks of completion the heating apparatus, 
the painting and the hanging of the doors and blinds. There 
will also be needed a considerable quantity of desks and settees 
for its proper furnishing. 

The immediate site consists of sixty acres of rolling prairie, 
which it is intended to ornament with every tree which will grow 
in this latitude, The grounds have already been carefully platted, 


61 


and the tree planting begun. The carrying out of this idea, of 
course, must be the work of time. The whole arrangement is 
eminently creditable to the State, and is well worth a journey to 
see. ‘Thanks to the executive ability of the accomplished Princi- 
pal of the University, and the hearty co-operation of the Board 
of Education. ; 

The objects to be attained by this great enterprise, are suc- 
cinctly stated in the fourth section of its charter of incorporation, 
as follows: | 

“Suc. 4. The object of said Normal University shall be to qual- 
ify teachers for the common schools of this State, by imparting 
instruction in the art of teaching, in all branches of study which 
pertain to a common school education—in the elements of natural 
sciences, including agricultural chemistry, animal and vegetable 
physiology—in the fundamental laws of the United States and of 
the State of Illinois, in regard to the rights and duties of citizens, 
and such other studies as the Board of Education may from time 
to time prescribe.” 

The school has been in operation three years, and to-day was 
graduated its first class of ten scholars, whose names and resi- 
dences I have given above. Some forty students entered with 
the class, who have left and are now scattered through the State 
teaching, but will return to complete the course in subsequent 
classes. The number of students now in attendance number 
over one hundred. Most of these are compelled. to rely almost 
wholly upon their own exertions for support. They are generally 
matured, and many of them have had previous experience in 
teaching. From these facts it may be inferred, as is the fact, that 
these students have a purpose in life. They are fitting themselves 
for honorable occupation; and to obtain for that purpose the 
training of this school, are obliged to make personal sacrifices. 
It cannot be said with regard to them, that the State is educating 
those who are able to educate themselves. 

The course of study pursued, requiring three years for com- 
pletion, consists of a careful review of the common branches; 
' of the philosophy, history’ and methods of education; of the 
higher English branches; of: the natural sciences; and Latin as 
an optional study. There: ‘Are already four permanent professor- 
ships established, and another one authorized by the late meeting 
of the Board. ora : 


62 


I have thus endeavored to lay before your readers, at length, the 
history, objects and achievements of this teacher of the teachers, 
for the reason that the information is difficult to obtain in a con- 
densed and connected form, and very much of it lies only in the 
memory of individuals. 


[From the PRESS AND TRIBUNE. ] 


A week passed at the flourishing little city, the county seat of 
McLean Co., has but strengthened previous impressions as to the 
character of that place and those traits on the part of its citizens 
which have given it a solid and substantial growth. 

_The past week, daily records of which have appeared in our 
columns, has been one of importance to Bloomington, and to the 
State at large. It cannot be doubted, and indeed we must believe 
it will appear most desirable, that Bloomington, as the seat of the 
Normal University, will also be the center of other kindred yet 
independent matters of interest, as indicated by the large attend- 
ance on the several occasions of this week, ending with the 
Commencement of the University. 

The cause of Agricultural Education, for a long time past in 
discussion among leading minds in this State, has received a 
direct impetus from this gathering, and something will result 
from it in the direction desired. Undisheartened by lack of 
complete success elsewhere in other States, there was manifested 
a disposition in that Convention, irrespective of politics or parties, 
to profit by the experience of others, and realize for Illinois, 
whose chief source of greatness must ever be intelligent agricul- 
ture, the establishment of an institution, or department of an 
institution already established, which shall be the seat and 
fountain head of experiment and investigation tending to increase 
the profit and guard the interests of the agriculturist. 

The Natural History Society, too, had a most important and 
valuable session, the best yet held by them. It has become a 
fixed and prominent fact, and the apartments devoted to its use in 
the new University building, will prove one of the most attractive 

features of the same. 

' The reference to the Normal University has already been so 
extended that little needs to be added. It would do less than 


63 


justice to facts, however, did it not give special mention and credit 
due to Charles E. Hovey, Esq., the Principal of the University, 
whose indefatigable zeal and energy have, the while nothing has 
been neglected in the inner management of the Institution, given 
such anotable and noble result as the completion of this splendid 
edifice, though in a period of financial distress which rested with 
almost crushing weight upon all enterprises of this nature, 
especially in the West. 

The University building, on its noble swell of prairie, a little 
over a mile north of the city, is already the nucleus of quite a 
number of dwellings, the Professors’ houses and boarding-houses. 
The residents of Bloomington have a just pride in this educational 
enterprise which their liberality has invited to their city, and has 
since generously advanced and cherished. 


CONCLUSION. 


It is a noticeable fact, showing the tone of morals and even 
religion in the University, that every member of the graduating 
class is a member of some church; and a majority of them have 
become so since their connection with the school. That the tone 
of religion is unsectarian, liberal and catholic, is evidenced by the 
fact that the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, (old and new 
school,) Congregational and Christian Churches are all represent- 
ed in this first graduating class. There is no distinctive religious 
teaching in the Institution, and the catholic may as safely be 
educated here as the protestant. It isa State Institution, and 
very properly the rule is that the conscience of no citizen or stu- 
dent shall be tampered with or violated. 

The social element, while encouraged and cultivated, will be 
parentially guarded, and the manners and morals of the students 
continue to receive the first attention. In furtherance of this 
general idea, the new University building is so constructed as to 
bring both sexes together in the assembly and class rooms, where 
they will be under the eye of the teacher, but provides separate 
entrances, dressing rooms, stairways, etc., so that except in pres- 
ence of some of the Faculty, they may be entirely separate. 

The social gatherings of the students are expected to be here- 
after at the residence of the Principal, at such times and so often 
as the officers of the Institution shall deem expedient. 

Students are not allowed to board or room at places unapproved 
by the Principal. 

Ample means are provided for physical culture. In addition 
to the gymnasium or play rooms, in the building, the students, or 
a large proportion of them, will board one mile and a half from 
the University, thereby enforcing regular and sufficient exercise. 

The Course of Study, requiring three years for completion, 
consists : : 

1. Of the History, Philosophy and Methods of Education ; 


65 


Mental and Moral Philosophy; the Constitution of the United 

States and of this State; and the School Laws of this State. 
This chair is held by the Principal. 

. The English Language and Literature. L. H. Potter. 

. Mathematics. Ira Moore. 

. Geography and History. E. C. Hewitt. 

. The Natural Sciences. J. A. Sewell. 

Vocal Music. C. M. Cady. 

7. Graphics. §. P. Glover. 

Such assistance is furnished the teachers in the several depart- 
ments as the exigencies of the school may require, but the lead- 
ing teacher is held ‘responsible for the success or failure of his 
department, 

The departments of Vocal Music and Graphics require but a 
comparatively limited amount of time, and therefore the teachers 
are not resident Professors, as in the case of the other teachers. 
Latin and the Higher Mathematics are optional studies, and it:is 
in contemplation to put German and French on the same basis. 

The regular time for the admission of students is at the begin- 
ning of the Fall Term of each year, and no student is admitted 
for a less time than one year. 

The following is, in substance, the official circular of the Prin- 
cipal : | 

Admission.— Students seeking admission to the Great 
should make application to the School Commissioner of the county 
in which they reside, and are required— 

1. To be, if males, not less than 17, and if females, not less 
than 16 years of age. 

2. To produce a certificate of good moral character, signed 
by some responsible person. 

3. To sign a declaration of their intention to devote themselves 
to school toncbiniy 4 in this State. ) 

4. To pass asatisfactory examination before the proper offeedt, 
in reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, geography, and the ele- 
ments of English grammar. 

Extract from the Normal University Act.— Sec. 7. Hach 
county within the State shall be entitled to gratuitous instruction 
for one pupil in said Normal University, and each representative 


district shall be entitled to gratuitous instruction for a number of 
5 


mS om & tO 


66 


pupils equal to the number of representatives in said district, to 
be chosen in the following manner: The School. Commissioner 
in each county shall receive and register the names of all appli- 
cants for admission to said Normal University, and shall present 
the same to the County Court; or, in counties acting under town- 
ship organization, to the Board of Supervisors; which said County 
Court or Board of Supervisors, as the case may be, shall, together 
with the School Commissioner, examine all applicants so presented 
in such manner as the Board of Education may direct, and from 
the number of such as shall be found to possess the requisite 
qualifications, such pupils shall be selected by lot; and in repre- 
sentative districts composed of more than one county, the School 
Commissioner and County Judge, or the School Commissioner 
and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, in counties acting 
under township organization, as the case may be, of the several 
counties composing such representative districts, shall meet at 
the Clerk’s office of the County Court of the oldest county, and - 
from the applicants so presented to the County Court or Board 
of Supervisors of the several counties represented, and found to 
possess the requisite qualifications, shallselect by lot the number 
of pupils to which said district is entitled. The Board of Edu- 
cation shall have discretionary power, if any candidate does not 
sign and file with the Secretary of the Board a declaration that 
he or she will teach in the public schools within the State, in case 
that engagements can be secured by reasonable efforts, to require 
such candidates to provide for the payment of such fees for 
tuition as the Board may prescribe.” 

Course of Study.—The course of study, requiring three years 
for completion, consists— 

1, Of the thorough mastery of the elementary or Common 
School branches, including teaching and drill exercises. 
“2, Of lectures on education and educational systems; of the 
theory and practice of teaching; school discipline; the school 
laws of Illinois, and physical education, 

3. Of a course in the higher English and Mathematical studies, 
and in the natural sciences, with lectures. 

4. Of so much of the Latin and German languages as shall be 
deemed necessary to the full understanding of our own. 

The school year extends from September to July—forty weeks. 


67 


The regular time for the admission of students, this year, is 
Monday, September 17th, and always the second or third Mon- 
day of September in each year. 

Expenses.—Tuition is free. Board in good families can be had 
for $2.50 per week, exclusive of wood, lights and washing; some 
students board themselves at a much lower rate. 

Location.—The Normal University is located one and one-halt 
miles north of the city of Bloomington, at the junction of the 
Illinois Central and the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis Railroads. 
There are, at present, but few residences in the immediate vicinity 
of the University, but preparations are making for a large in- 
crease. 

The grounds are laid off in liberal lots, and several thousand 
street shade trees are already planted. It is proposed to continue 
this ornamentation until.every street is fully supplied with trees, 
in anticipation of the erection of dwellings. Five fine residences 
are now in process of ereetion, and some of the more wealthy 
and landscape loving citizens of Bloomington are preparing to 
build around the park. Few places offer equal inducements to 
persons seeking a quiet, beautiful residence, combined with the 
_ noblest educational facilities. Half a eentury hence, and elms, 
hardly less worthy than those which have rendered New Haven 
celebrated, will stretch their giant branches over the streets of 
this place, along which they are now planted. The University 
arboretum will then have reached maturity, forming a thing of 
beauty and of study. In it will be found, in groups, every tree 
which will grow in this latitude. Sixty acres, thus covered, will 
be worth a pilgrimage to see. 


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